bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two‐way Gaussian mixture models for high dimensional classification
Authors: Qiao Mu , Li Jia
Published: July 2010

Mixture discriminant analysis (MDA) has gained applications in a wide range of engineering and scientific fields. In this article, under the paradigm of MDA, we propose a two‐way Gaussian mixture model for classifying high dimensional data. This model regularizes the mixture component means by dividing variables into groups and then constraining the parameters for the variables in the same group to be identical. The grouping of the variables is not pre‐determined, but optimized as part of model estimation. A dimension reduction property for a two‐way mixture of distributions from a general exponential family is proved. Estimation methods for the two‐way Gaussian mixture with or without missing data are derived. Experiments on several real data sets show that the parsimonious two‐way mixture often outperforms a mixture model without variable grouping; and as a byproduct, significant dimension reduction is achieved. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining 3: 259‐271, 2010
Adhesion of Ag atoms to In surface magic clusters on Si(111)‐7 × 7 studied by UHV‐TEM/STM
Authors: Tanaka Miyoko , Teraoka Atsushi , Shimojo Masayuki
Published: July 2010

Surface magic clusters (SMCs) of In on Si(111)‐7 × 7 surfaces and adhesion of subsequently deposited Ag atoms to them, were observed and analyzed by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Formation of In SMCs on faulted halves of 7 × 7 unit cells was confirmed by both STM images and transmission diffraction patterns. By subsequent Ag deposition, adhesion of Ag atoms onto preexisting In SMCs was observed. Corresponding diffraction pattern suggests that Ag atoms captured in the In SMCs have characteristic atomic structure which is different from known Ag‐In alloy phase. The changes in EELS spectrum are also discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biocompatibility, Biodistribution, and Drug‐Delivery Efficiency of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy in Animals
Authors: Lu Jie , Liong Monty , Li Zongxi , Zink Jeffrey I. , Tamanoi Fuyuhiko
Published: July 2010

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are a promising material for drug delivery. In this Full Paper, MSNs are first shown to be well tolerated, as demonstrated by serological, hematological, and histopathological examinations of blood samples and mouse tissues after MSN injection. Biodistribution studies using human cancer xenografts are carried out with in vivo imaging and fluorescent microscopy imaging, as well as with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The results show that MSNs preferentially accumulate in tumors. Finally, the drug‐delivery capability of MSNs is demonstrated by following tumor growth in mice treated with camptothecin‐loaded MSNs. These results indicate that MSNs are biocompatible, preferentially accumulate in tumors, and effectively deliver drugs to the tumors and suppress tumor growth.
Yellow dextrins: Evaluating changes in structure and colour during processing
Authors: Terpstra K. Ronald , Woortman Albert J. J. , Hopman Johan C. P.
Published: July 2010

The preparation of a yellow dextrin is thoroughly characterized during different stages of its production process with a SEC system equipped with four detectors (light scattering, viscosity, UV and RI). With this system, also referred to as SEC‐4D, it was shown that the changes in characteristics are only in line with initial expectations up to 5 h after initiation of the reaction. After 5 h, changes in molar mass, intrinsic viscosity and colour point to the presence of significantly different structures. The combined results of the SEC‐4D measurements indicate the formation of aggregate like structures made of small starch fragments which are intensely coloured and physically linked. The obtained results also indicate that the aggregate like structures are probably still susceptible to repolymerization and transglycosylation. The newly derived parameter YI‐400 nm played an important role in defining a plausible cause for the observed changes in characteristics.
Structural steelwork for Střížkov underground station, Prague
Authors: Vácha Jaroslav
Published: July 2010

A new underground station at Střížkov in Prague has been designed and built as a special structure with a high level of aesthetics. The hall structure is 160 m long, 42 m wide and 20 m high. Two crossing hingeless main arches spanning 160 m are fixed to concrete pylons. The roof structure is suspended from the main arches using a system of prestressed rods and supported by columns around the roof. Most of the members are curved with variable cross‐sections (the majority of sections are welded boxes with a plate thickness of 10—35 mm except the columns, which are welded I‐sections). The geometry of all parts made design, fabrication and erection very difficult. The whole structure was built under the direct supervision of the architect. The underground station was opened to the public in May 2008.
Dubai International Airport expansion A self‐adjusting prestressed tension rod façade system with parametric design
Authors: Helbig Thorsten , Gabler Markus , Oppe Matthias
Published: July 2010

Dubai International Airport experienced an increase in passenger numbers from 4.3 million in 1990 to some 40 million in 2008, and this figure is expected to rise further. To meet the needs of this influx of travellers and airlines, the government of Dubai launched a major expansion of the airport in 2002, involving the construction of the new terminal 3 plus its concourses 2 and 3 — a total investment of US$ 4.1 billion.

The envelope of the double‐curvature concourses, 950 m and 600 m long respectively, is intersected by 142 triangular façades, the “teardrop‐windows”. The prestressed tension rod system has been designed to adjust automatically to the different geometries of the individual façades with up to 475 m2 of surface area. Besides the filigree appearance, easy and reliable installation and pretensioning are the major advantages of the system. The structure of the teardrop‐windows consists of two orthogonally arranged tension rods with opposing curvature. The tension rod system is connected to a perimeter edge beam and is therefore self‐retaining, similar to the well‐known “tennis racket” system. Thus, no reaction forces caused by pretensioning are transferred into the primary steel construction.
Maritime Museum, Lingang New City, China
Authors: Goetze Nikolaus , Sobek Werner , Tarazi Frank , Brensing Christian
Published: July 2010

Among the many new towns in China, Lingang New City is probably the one with the most exceptional design history and urban layout. Inspired by a drop hitting the water’s surface and causing ripples, Meinhard von Gerkan’s (gmp) design for the entire town for 800 000 people 60 km south of Shanghai is being built entirely on reclaimed land. Water plays a pivotal role in every sense in the overall urban scheme. For example, the centre of the town is marked by a huge artificial lake covering 8 km2, thus creating the paradox of what one might call an “empty” centre. It therefore does not come as a surprise to learn that China’s first National Maritime Museum (Fig. 1) is one of the first buildings to be realized in Lingang New City, a town literally built on water.
Genome-wide gain-of-function screen identifies novel regulators of pluripotency
Authors: Abujarour Ramzey , Efe Jem , Ding Sheng
Published: July 2010

Pluripotent stem cells are characterized by the capacity to self-renew and to differentiate into all the cell types of the body. To identify novel regulators of pluripotency, we screened cDNA libraries (>30,000 clones) in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells for factors that modulate the expression of a luciferase reporter driven by the promoter of the pluripotency master regulator Nanog. Ninety confirmed hits activated the reporter and 14 confirmed hits inhibited the reporter by more than two-fold. The identified hits were evaluated by gain- and loss-of-functions approaches. The reporter-activating hits Timp2, Hig2, and Mki67ip promoted embryonic stem (ES) cell self-renewal when episomally overexpressed in ES cells, whereas the reporter-inhibiting hits PU.1/Spi1, Prkaca, and Jun induced differentiation of ES cells. Conversely, the knockdown of the activating hits Timp2, Mki67ip, Esrrg, and Dusp7 in ES cells induced differentiation, whereas the knockdown of the reporter-inhibiting hit PU.1/Spi1 led to inhibition of differentiation. One of the novel hits, the RNA-binding protein Mki67ip was further characterized, and found to be overexpressed in ES cells and in early development and downregulated during differentiation. The knockdown of Mki67ip led to the differentiation of ES cells, decreased growth rate, reduction in pluripotency markers, and induction of lineage-specific markers. In addition, colocalization and coimmunoprecipitation experiments suggest that Mki67ip promotes ES cell self-renewal via a mechanism involving nucleophosmin, a multifunctional nucleolar protein upregulated in stem cells and cancer.
Concise review: Nanoparticles and cellular carriers-allies in cancer imaging and cellular gene therapy?
Authors: Tang Catherine , Russell Pamela J. , Martiniello-Wilks Rosetta , J. Rasko John E. , Khatri Aparajita
Published: July 2010

Ineffective treatment and poor patient management continue to plague the arena of clinical oncology. The crucial issues include inadequate treatment efficacy due to ineffective targeting of cancer deposits, systemic toxicities, suboptimal cancer detection and disease monitoring. This has led to the quest for clinically relevant, innovative multifaceted solutions such as development of targeted and traceable therapies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the intrinsic ability to “home” to growing tumors and are hypoimmunogenic. Therefore, these can be used as (a) “Trojan Horses” to deliver gene therapy directly into the tumors and (b) carriers of nanoparticles to allow cell tracking and simultaneous cancer detection. The camouflage of MSC carriers can potentially tackle the issues of safety, vector, and/or transgene immunogenicity as well as nanoparticle clearance and toxicity. The versatility of the nanotechnology platform could allow cellular tracking using single or multimodal imaging modalities. Toward that end, noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is fast becoming a clinical favorite, though there is scope for improvement in its accuracy and sensitivity. In that, use of superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (SPION) as MRI contrast enhancers may be the best option for tracking therapeutic MSC. The prospects and consequences of synergistic approaches using MSC carriers, gene therapy, and SPION in developing cancer diagnostics and therapeutics are discussed.
Gα Subunit Coordinates with Ephrin-B to Balance Self-Renewal and Differentiation in Neural Progenitor Cells
Authors: Murai Kiyohito , Qiu Runxiang , Zhang Heying , Wang Jun , Wu Chen , Neubig Richard R. , Lu Qiang
Published: July 2010

Proper development of the mammalian brain requires that neural progenitor cells balance self-renewal and differentiation under precise temporal and spatial regulation, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we identify Gα subunit as a positive regulator of mammalian neurogenesis, working with the regulator of G protein signaling (RGS)-mediated ephrin-B signaling pathway as two opposing forces to maintain a balance between self-renewal and differentiation in the developing mouse cerebral cortex. Multiple Gαi subunits are expressed by cortical neural progenitor cells during the course of cortical neurogenesis. Activation of Gαi signaling, through in utero electroporation-mediated expression of wild-type and constitutively active Gαi subunits, counteracts the function of ephrin-B in cortical neural progenitors to induce differentiation. Genetic knock-in of an RGS-insensitive G184SGαi2 causes early cell cycle exit and a reduction of cortical neural progenitor cells and leads to a defect in the production of late born cortical neurons, similar to what is observed in mutant mice with deficiency in ephrin-B reverse signaling pathway. This study reveals a role of Gα subunit in mammalian neurogenesis and uncovers a developmental mechanism, coordinated by the Gα and ephrin-B signaling pathways, for control of the balance between self-renewal and differentiation in neural progenitor cells.
Krüppel-Like Transcription Factor 4 Contributes to Maintenance of Telomerase Activity in Stem Cells
Authors: Wong Chui-Wei , Hou Pei-Shan , Tseng Shun-Fu , Chien Chung-Liang , Wu Kou-Juey , Chen Hsin-Fu , Ho Hong-Nerng , Kyo Satoru , Teng Shu-Chun
Published: July 2010

The zinc finger Krüppel-like transcription factor 4 (KLF4) has been implicated in cancer formation and stem cell regulation. However, the function of KLF4 in tumorigenesis and stem cell regulation are poorly understood due to limited knowledge of its targets in these cells. In this study, we have revealed a surprising link between KLF4 and regulation of telomerase that offers important insight into how KLF4 contributes to cancer formation and stem cell regulation. KLF4 sufficiently activated expression of the human telomerase catalytic subunit, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), in telomerase-low alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), and fibroblast cells, while downregulation of KLF4 reduced its expression in cancerous and stem cells, which normally exhibits high expression. Furthermore, KLF4-dependent induction of hTERT was mediated by a KLF4 binding site in the proximal promoter region of hTERT. In human embryonic stem cells, expression of hTERT replaced KLF4 function to maintain their self-renewal. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that hTERT is one of the major targets of KLF4 in cancer and stem cells to maintain long-term proliferation potential.
Nasal‐bone length in euploid fetuses at 16–24 weeks' gestation by three‐dimensional ultrasound
Authors: Persico N. , Molina F. , Borenstein M. , Azumendi G. , Nicolaides K. H.
Published: July 2010

Objective

To establish a normal range of nasal‐bone length at 16–24 weeks' gestation by the use of three‐dimensional (3D) ultrasound and to investigate the effect of deviations from the exact mid‐sagittal plane on the measurement of nasal‐bone length.

Methods

We acquired 3D volumes of the fetal profile from 135 normal fetuses at 16–24 weeks' gestation. The multiplanar mode was used to obtain the exact mid‐sagittal plane and to produce parasagittal and oblique views of the fetal face. Nasal‐bone length was measured in each plane and the sonographic landmarks of each profile view were examined.

Results

Nasal‐bone length increased with gestational age from a mean of 4.1 mm at 16 weeks to 7.1 mm at 24 weeks. There was a tendency to underestimate nasal‐bone length when the measurements were taken in parasagittal planes and to overestimate the measurements when they were taken in oblique views, compared to the exact mid‐sagittal plane. The mean difference in nasal‐bone length from the one in the mid‐sagittal plane was 0.42 and 0.63 mm for parasagittal measurements at 1 and 2 mm, respectively, from the midline, −0.08 and −0.51 mm for oblique measurements at 10° and 20° rotation along the z‐axis and −0.69 mm for rotation of 20° along the z‐axis and 10° along the y‐axis. The vomeral bone was the only sonographic landmark defining the exact mid‐sagittal plane of the face that was not visible in the parasagittal and oblique planes.

Conclusions

Parasagittal and oblique scanning planes may produce different degrees of under‐ or over‐estimation of nasal‐bone length compared to measurements systematically taken in the exact mid‐sagittal plane. Inclusion of the vomeral bone in the definition of the exact mid‐sagittal plane of the face could improve the reproducibility of measurements of nasal‐bone length. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hybrid models of tumor growth
Authors: Rejniak Katarzyna A. , Anderson Alexander R. A.
Published: July 2010

Cancer is a complex, multiscale process in which genetic mutations occurring at a subcellular level manifest themselves as functional changes at the cellular and tissue scale. The multiscale nature of cancer requires mathematical modeling approaches that can handle multiple intracellular and extracellular factors acting on different time and space scales. Hybrid models provide a way to integrate both discrete and continuous variables that are used to represent individual cells and concentration or density fields, respectively. Each discrete cell can also be equipped with submodels that drive cell behavior in response to microenvironmental cues. Moreover, the individual cells can interact with one another to form and act as an integrated tissue. Hybrid models form part of a larger class of individual‐based models that can naturally connect with tumor cell biology and allow for the integration of multiple interacting variables both intrinsically and extrinsically and are therefore perfectly suited to a systems biology approach to tumor growth. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2011 3 115–125 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.102

This article is categorized under:

Analytical and Computational Methods > Dynamical Methods

Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Organ, Tissue, and Physiological Models
Effective Encapsulation of Europium(3+) by a Heptadentate Schiff‐Base Ligand
Authors: Dröse Peter , Blaurock Steffen , Hrib Cristian G. , Edelmann Frank T.
Published: July 2010

The bright yellow Schiff‐base complex Eu(TRENDSAL) (1) (TRENDSAL = N[CH2CH2N=CH(2‐OH‐3,5‐tBu2C6H2)]3) was prepared in 71 % yield by treatment of EuCl3·6H2O simultaneously with 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylsalicylicaldehyde and tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine in the presence of triethylamine. X‐ray crystal structure analyses of the solvates 1·DME (DME = 1,2‐dimethoxyethane) and 1·MeCN demonstrated the tight encapsulation of the Eu3+ ion, allowing not even the “slim” acetonitrile to enter the coordination sphere of europium.
Accessory Plantaris Muscle: Anatomy and Prevalence
Authors: Herzog Richard Joseph
Published: July 2010

Accessory and anomalous muscles have been described in humans, but only a few at the level of the knee. The aim of this retrospective cohort analysis was to determine the prevalence of a new accessory muscle located at the level of the knee detected with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The accessory muscle is designated an accessory plantaris muscle in this study due to its intimate origin with the normal plantaris muscle. Retrospective review of 1,000 consecutive MRI exams of the knee performed on patients presenting with acute or chronic knee symptoms revealed an accessory plantaris muscle in 63 of the 1,000 patients (6.3%)—38 males (7.5%) and 25 females (5.1%). Origin of 62 of 63 of the accessory plantaris muscles merged with the origin of the normal plantaris muscle, and one of 63 merged with the origin of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle. These accessory plantaris muscles inserted into the iliotibial band, the lateral patellar retinaculum, or the iliotibial tract.
Posterolateral Instability of the Elbow in an Adolescent Boy with a Lateral Epicondyle Fracture: A Case Report
Authors: Capo John , Khamsi Babak , Nourbakhsh Ali
Published: July 2010

Background

Posterolateral rotatory instability of elbow is considered to be due to the disruption of the ulnar part of the lateral collateral ligament (LUCL). This instability pattern may also be induced by a fracture of components of the lateral column.

Results

We present the case of a 16-year-old boy who fell on his left outstretched arm as he attempted to jump over a tennis net. On initial physical examination, the elbow had instability found on varus stress and the radial head could be felt posteriorly. With attempted valgus and supination force combined with axial loading, the elbow gapped open and the patient had a sense of increased instability. X-rays showed a fracture of the lateral humeral epicondyle and posterolateral subluxation of the elbow. In the operating room, the patient was found to have reproducible posterolateral instability of the elbow. The lateral epicondyle was found to be fractured off the humerus with the LUCL still attached to the fragment. The elbow was reduced, and the injury was stabilized with small screws and suture anchors. At 6-month follow-up, the patient was pain-free, and physical examination revealed 170° of flexion, full extension, 90° of pronation, and 65° of supination. X-rays showed healing of the fracture with concentric reduction of the elbow joint.

Conclusion

In lateral epicondyle fractures, the affected elbow should be assessed for any signs of associated instability. If signs of clear instability are seen that would prohibit proper postinjury rehabilitation, then surgical reduction and fixation of the epicondyle with reinforcement of the LUCL is an effective method of treatment.
trans‐Fatty Acid Isomers in Adipose Tissue Have Divergent Associations with Adiposity in Humans
Authors: Smit Liesbeth A. , Willett Walter C. , Campos Hannia
Published: July 2010

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between adipose tissuetrans‐fatty acid isomers and adiposity. This cross‐sectional study included 1,785 subjects from Costa Rica. Fatty acid concentrations (as a percentage of the total fatty acids) in subcutaneous adipose tissue were assessed by gas–liquid chromatography. Dietary intakes were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate linear regression models were used to relate adipose tissuetrans‐fatty acid content to BMI, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness while adjusting for age, sex, and area of residence. To account for variations in lifestyle, we adjusted for smoking, physical activity, income, self‐reported history of diabetes and hypertension, and for adipose tissue alpha‐linolenic acid and energy intake in a third model. After adjustments, positive associations were found between 18:2t‐fatty acids (primarily from partially hydrogenated oils) and BMI, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness (Pfor each association <0.01). Rumenic acid was positively associated with skinfold thickness (P< 0.0001), but not with BMI or waist circumference (P> 0.05). Inverse associations were found between 16:1n‐7t‐fatty acids and skinfold thickness and between 18:1t‐fatty acids and BMI and waist circumference (P< 0.0001). This study suggests that individualtrans‐fatty acid isomers may have divergent effects on adiposity. 18:2t‐fatty acids show consistent positive associations with measures of adiposity. These isomer‐specific associations are an interesting new finding. Other prospective and intervention studies are necessary to examine these relationships further.
Habitat use of humpback whales in Godthaabsfjord, West Greenland, with implications for commercial exploitation
Authors: Boye Tenna Kragh , Simon Malene , Madsen Peter Teglberg
Published: July 2010

North Atlantic humpback whales migrate from breeding grounds to high latitude feeding areas to where individuals display large scale site fidelity. In Godthaabsfjord (Greenland), humpback whales are present from early spring to late autumn. To test for small scale site fidelity and occurrence, identification-photographs were collected from May to September 2007 and 2008 and compared with an older catalogue. We found high small scale site fidelity where 40% of the whales present in 2007 were resighted in 2008. The average resight rate from 1992 to 2008 was 30.2%. Individuals did not remain in the fjord the entire season and the time spent in the fjord was highly variable amongst individuals varying between 7–60% of the time from May to September. Individual humpback whales in the presence and absence of boats were tracked with a land-based theodolite to test for effects of whale watching on whale behaviour. Whale watch vessels were shown to significantly increase whale swimming speed, to shorten long dives and diminish the ratio between surfacings and long dives. It is concluded that the same foraging whales use this fjord system year after year, calling for regulation of whale watching and for consideration when discussing reopening the whaling of humpback whales in West Greenland.
Meso-scale genetic structure of the intertidal, crevice-dwelling, stalked barnacleIbla cumingi(Crustacea: Cirripedia): an interplay of life history and local hydrographic conditions
Authors: Leung Priscilla T.Y. , Morton Brian , Ng W.C.
Published: July 2010

Variation in life history characteristics is believed to play an important role in dispersal and thus shaping the population and genetic structure of marine invertebrates. The genetic structure ofIbla cumingi, a small intertidal stalked barnacle that broods lecithotrophic larvae, was evaluated using 145 random amplified polymorphic DNA markers on 100 individuals from five locations across Hong Kong waters. Shallow genetic structure was observed along open-coast shores, and there was no indication of isolation by geographical distance. A significant genetic divergence, however, was observed between samples inside and outside Tolo Harbour, a semi-enclosed, sheltered and estuarine bay located in the north-eastern quadrant of Hong Kong, indicating the presence of a genetic sub-structuring pattern. In addition, relatively lower genetic diversities were described for samples inside Tolo Harbour than those from open-coast shores. This could be associated with an increase in inbreeding events attributed to local settlement caused by larval retention. This study provides an insight into how the interaction of life history and local, enclosed, hydrographic conditions could result in a substantial genetic structuring ofI. cumingiover a meso-scale geographical distance.
A new approach to modelling schistosomiasis transmission based on stratified worm burden
Authors: GURARIE D. , KING C. H. , WANG X.
Published: July 2010

Background/Objective.Multiple factors affect schistosomiasis transmission in distributed meta-population systems including age, behaviour, and environment. The traditional approach to modelling macroparasite transmission often exploits the ‘mean worm burden’ (MWB) formulation for human hosts. However, typical worm distribution in humans is overdispersed, and classic models either ignore this characteristic or makead hocassumptions about its pattern (e.g., by assuming a negative binomial distribution). Such oversimplifications can give wrong predictions for the impact of control interventions.Methods.We propose a new modelling approach to macro-parasite transmission by stratifying human populations according to worm burden, and replacing MWB dynamics with that of ‘population strata’. We developed proper calibration procedures for such multi-component systems, based on typical epidemiological and demographic field data, and implemented them using Wolfram Mathematica.Results.Model programming and calibration proved to be straightforward. Our calibrated system provided good agreement with the individual level field data from the Msambweni region of eastern Kenya.Conclusion.The Stratified Worm Burden (SWB) approach offers many advantages, in that it accounts naturally for overdispersion and accommodates other important factors and measures of human infection and demographics. Future work will apply this model and methodology to evaluate innovative control intervention strategies, including expanded drug treatment programmes proposed by the World Health Organization and its partners.
Tackling Neglect and Mental Health Reform in a Devolved System of Welfare Governance
Authors: COSTA-FONT JOAN , SALVADOR-CARULLA LUIS , CABASES JUAN M. , ALONSO JORDI , McDAID DAVID
Published: July 2010

A system of devolved welfare governance, it is argued, increases participation in welfare services. However, limited empirical evidence has been reported on how it influences welfare reform. This paper draws upon evidence from the mental health system in Spain, where health care is devolved to the regional states (autonomous communities), to examine whether policy reform of neglected policy areas may be triggered through heightened policy awareness and better participation of interested stakeholders. We find that regional devolution has helped to scale up mental health in some of Spain's autonomous regions relative to support for other services. Evidence suggests that whilst fragmentation and certain historical legacies remain path dependent, regional devolution has indeed enhanced experimentation, reform and policy innovation in mental health care. However, the expansion of mental health care coverage has been constrained by the lack of a clear definition of public coverage, as well as the need to meet the demands of evidence-based policy in an era of cost-containment. Inequalities in access to mental health care remain; they are compounded by the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health problems, which is a common challenge for all health systems in Europe.
The securitisation of avian influenza: international discourses and domestic politics in Asia
Authors: CURLEY MELISSA G. , HERINGTON JONATHAN
Published: July 2010

Infectious disease outbreaks primarily affect communities of individuals with little reference to the political borders which contain them; yet, the state is still the primary provider of public health capacity. This duality has profound effects for the way disease is framed as a security issue, and how international organisations, such as the World Health Organization, assist affected countries. The article seeks to explore the role that domestic political relationships play in mediating the treatment of diseases as security issues. Drawing upon an analysis of the securitisation of avian influenza in Vietnam and Indonesia, the article discusses the effect that legitimacy, competing referents and audiences have on the external and internal policy reactions of states to infectious diseases, specifically in their interpretation of disease as a security threat. In doing so, we extend upon existing debates on the Copenhagen School's securitisation framework, particularly on the impact of domestic political structures on securitisation processes in non-Western, non-democratic and transitional states.
The ‘I’ in IR: an autoethnographic account
Authors: LÖWENHEIM ODED
Published: July 2010

Autoethnography is a way and method to reflect on the mutual constitution of the self and the social. It allows one to consider how her/his personal and professional subjectivity was constructed and how her/his actions in the world reproduce or change this world. Autoethnography enables one to acquire an agentive role in the world by highlighting one's uniqueness and voice. It also aims to create mutual empowerment among people, ordinary individuals, by means of identification, connectivity, and empathy. In this article I explore some conceptual issues relating to autoethnography and then present my personal account of why I study International Relations (IR) and how I decided to bring myself more openly into my texts and lectures. I conclude by arguing that autoethnography made me more confident in sounding my voice in print and in class, and that, consequently, I became much more aware of the human capacity to make a difference.
HIV, AIDS and conflict in Africa: why isn't it (even) worse?
Authors: MCINNES COLIN
Published: July 2010

The causes and consequences of HIV and AIDS are social are well as biomedical. Given the scale of the pandemic, understanding the social dimensions of HIV and AIDS is vital. One key argument is that there is a link between conflict and the spread of HIV. This appears to be particularly the case for sub-Saharan Africa where high levels of HIV prevalence are matched by violent conflict and state instability. Recent evidence however suggests that HIV prevalence does not always increase in conflict and that in some instances it may even reduce. This article attempts to explain why HIV has not increased in some sub-Saharan conflicts. To do this it moves beyond the use of risk factors to offer a new explanation based on susceptibility and vulnerability. It uses this explanation to examine four cases – Sierra Leone, Angola, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – where conflict did not lead to a significant increase in the prevalence of HIV. The article concludes that, despite the fears of a few years ago, conflict does not readily act as a vector for the spread of HIV, though the potential for this to occur does still exist under certain circumstances.
Dietary factors and the risks of oesophageal adenocarcinoma and Barrett's oesophagus
Authors: Kubo Ai , Corley Douglas A. , Jensen Christopher D. , Kaur Rubinder
Published: July 2010

Incidence rates for oesophageal adenocarcinoma have increased by over 500 % during the past few decades without clear reasons. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, obesity and smoking have been identified as risk factors, although the demographic distribution of these risk factors is not consistent with the demographic distribution of oesophageal adenocarcinoma, which is substantially more common among whites and males than any other demographic groups. Numerous epidemiological studies have suggested associations between dietary factors and the risks of oesophageal adenocarcinoma and its precursor, Barrett's oesophagus, though a comprehensive review is lacking. The main aim of the present review is to consider the evidence linking dietary factors with the risks of oesophageal adenocarcinoma, Barrett's oesophagus, and the progression from Barrett's oesophagus to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The existing epidemiological evidence is strongest for an inverse relationship between intake of vitamin C, β-carotene, fruits and vegetables, particularly raw fruits and vegetables and dark green, leafy and cruciferous vegetables, carbohydrates, fibre and Fe and the risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma and Barrett's oesophagus. Patients at higher risk for Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma may benefit from increasing their consumption of fruits and vegetables and reducing their intake of red meat and other processed food items. Further research is needed to evaluate the relationship between diet and the progression of Barrett's oesophagus to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Evidence from cohort studies will help determine whether randomised chemoprevention trials are warranted for the primary prevention of Barrett's oesophagus or its progression to cancer.
Hypergraphs Do Jump
Authors: BABER RAHIL , TALBOT JOHN
Published: July 2010

We say that α ∈ [0, 1) is a jump for an integer r ≥ 2 if there exists c(α) > 0 such that for all ϵ > 0 and all t ≥ 1, any r-graph with n ≥ n0(α, ϵ, t) vertices and density at least α + ϵ contains a subgraph on t vertices of density at least α + c.

The Erdős–Stone–Simonovits theorem [4, 5] implies that for r = 2, every α ∈ [0, 1) is a jump. Erdős [3] showed that for all r ≥ 3, every α ∈ [0, r!/rr) is a jump. Moreover he made his famous ‘jumping constant conjecture’, that for all r ≥ 3, every α ∈ [0, 1) is a jump. Frankl and Rödl [7] disproved this conjecture by giving a sequence of values of non-jumps for all r ≥ 3.

We use Razborov's flag algebra method [9] to show that jumps exist for r = 3 in the interval [2/9, 1). These are the first examples of jumps for any r ≥ 3 in the interval [r!/rr, 1). To be precise, we show that for r = 3 every α ∈ [0.2299, 0.2316) is a jump.

We also give an improved upper bound for the Turán density of K4− = {123, 124, 134}: π(K4−) ≤ 0.2871. This in turn implies that for r = 3 every α ∈ [0.2871, 8/27) is a jump.
THE EFFECT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN CAPITAL ON ECONOMIC GROWTH
Authors: Ketteni Elena , Mamuneas Theofanis , Stengos Thanasis
Published: July 2010

In this paper we compare the impact of hardware, software, and communication equipment, widely referred to as information and communication technologies (ICT), on economic growth among the advanced industrialized countries. We use nonparametric techniques that allow us to estimate the output elasticities of ICT and human capital directly for each country and time period in our sample. Our results indicate that countries with high levels of ICT capital have high output elasticities of human capital. In addition, countries with high levels of human capital have high output elasticities of ICT, a result suggesting complementarity between the two.
A NOTE ON THE OPTIMAL CONTROL OF STOCKS ACCUMULATING WITH A DELAY
Authors: Winkler Ralph
Published: July 2010

We study a generic optimal control problem with a stock that accumulates with constant delay. We show that the optimal system dynamics reduces to a system of ordinary differential equations, implying monotonic optimal paths, if the objective function is additively separable in the stock and the control. This is, however, not true for general objective functions, which may exhibit nonmonotonic and oscillatory optimal paths. The reason is that the impact of the stock on the objective depends on the current level of the control, whereas the control influences the dynamics of the stock with a delay.
Kitchen Russian: Cross-linguistic differences and first-language object naming by Russian–English bilinguals
Authors: PAVLENKO ANETA , MALT BARBARA C.
Published: July 2010

We examined first language (L1) naming of common household objects in three groups of Russian–English bilinguals: early, childhood and late bilinguals. Their naming patterns were compared with those of native speakers of Russian and English, in order to detect possible second language (L2) English influence on L1 Russian naming patterns. We investigated whether such influence is modulated by the speaker's linguistic trajectory, specifically, their age of arrival in the L2 environment, which in turn influences their relative proficiency and dominance in the two languages. We also examined whether the potential for L2 shifts can be linked to specific characteristics of the categories in the L1 or L2. L2 influence was evident in the data, increasing with earlier age of arrival but most pronounced with lowest L1 proficiency. The changes entailed both narrowing and broadening of linguistic categories. These findings indicate that L1 word use is susceptible to L2 influence even for concrete nouns referring to familiar objects, and the nature of the shift for a given word appears to be driven by several factors.
Chronic disease and infant nutrition: is it significant to public health?
Authors: Smith Julie P , Harvey Peta J
Published: July 2010

Objective

To assess the public health significance of premature weaning of infants from breast milk on later-life risk of chronic illness.

Design

A review and summary of recent meta-analyses of studies linking premature weaning from breast milk with later-life chronic disease risk is presented followed by an estimation of the approximate exposure in a developed Western country, based on historical breast-feeding prevalence data for Australia since 1927. The population-attributable proportion of chronic disease associated with current patterns of artificial feeding in infancy is estimated.

Results

After adjustment for major confounding variables, current research suggests that the risks of chronic disease are 30–200 % higher in those who were not breast-fed compared to those who were breast-fed in infancy. Exposure to premature weaning ranges from 20 % to 90 % in post-World War II age cohorts. Overall, the attributable proportion of chronic disease in the population is estimated at 6–24 % for a 30 % exposure to premature weaning.

Conclusions

Breast-feeding is of public health significance in preventing chronic disease. There is a small but consistent effect of premature weaning from breast milk in increasing later-life chronic disease risk. Risk exposure in the Australian population is substantial. Approximately 90 % of current 35–45-year-olds were weaned from breast-feeding by 6 months of age. Encouraging greater duration and exclusivity of breast-feeding is a potential avenue for reducing future chronic disease burden and health system costs.
Determinants of sports, cycling, walking and overall leisure-time physical activity among postmenopausal women in Germany
Authors: Steindorf Karen , Chang-Claude Jenny , Flesch-Janys Dieter , Schmidt Martina E
Published: July 2010

Objective

Convincing evidence exists for a beneficial effect of physical activity (PA) on health and well-being for elderly women. Nevertheless, many women in Germany are insufficiently physically active. Activity promotion programmes should target women in particular need. Thus, we examined subject-related determinants of PA for postmenopausal women in Germany.

Design

Associations of sociodemographic, anthropometric, lifestyle and health-related factors with activity since the age of 50 years were assessed with multiple linear and logistic regression models, regarding overall leisure-time PA (LPA) in metabolic equivalent hours per week, engagement in sports (ever v. never), cycling (yes v. no) and walking (≥3·5 v. <3·5 h/week).

Setting

All controls from a population-based case–control study carried out in 2002–2005 in Germany (MARIE study).

Subjects

A total of 6569 postmenopausal women.

Results

We found significant associations of overall LPA, sports, cycling and walking in postmenopausal years with several characteristics, among others: obese v. normal BMI (adjusted OR: ORsports = 0·73; ORcycling = 0·60; ORwalking = 0·63), tall v. short (ORsports = 1·49), worker v. medium employee (ORsports = 0·47), working full time v. unemployed/retired (ORsports = 0·80; ORwalking = 0·56), current v. non-smoker (ORsports = 0·62; ORcycling = 0·62; ORwalking = 0·82), non-German nationality (ORsports = 0·58; ORcycling = 0·41). Parity seemed more relevant than marital status for sports or cycling activity. Further, CVD, hypertension and diabetes were significantly associated with lower activity (ORsports = 0·77, 0·79 and 0·80; ORcycling = 0·80, 0·75 and 0·85, respectively).

Conclusions

Our results suggest potential target groups for promoting sports, cycling or walking activity. Postmenopausal women with chronic diseases may need to be stronger encouraged by their physicians to engage in adequate PA for the management of their diseases.
Deconvolution of u channel magnetometer data: Experimental study of accuracy, resolution, and stability of different inversion methods
Authors: Jackson Mike , Bowles Julie A. , Lascu Ioan , Solheid Peat
Published: July 2010

We explore the effects of sampling density, signal/noise ratios, and position‐dependent measurement errors on deconvolution calculations for u channel magnetometer data, using a combination of experimental and numerical approaches. Experiments involve a synthetic sample set made by setting hydraulic cement in a 30‐cm u channel and slicing the hardened material into ∼2‐cm lengths, and a natural lake sediment u channel sample. The cement segments can be magnetized and measured individually, and reassembled for continuous u channel measurement and deconvolution; the lake sediment channel was first measured continuously and then sliced into discrete samples for individual measurement. Each continuous data set was deconvolved using the ABIC minimization code of Oda and Shibuya (1996) and two new approaches that we have developed, using singular‐value decomposition and regularized least squares. These involve somewhat different methods to stabilize the inverse calculations and different criteria for identifying the optimum solution, but we find in all of our experiments that the three methods converge to essentially identical solutions. Repeat scans in several experiments show that measurement errors are not distributed with position‐independent variance; errors in setting/determining the u channel position (standard deviation ∼0.2 mm) translate in regions of strong gradients into measurement uncertainties much larger than those due to instrument noise and drift. When we incorporate these depth‐dependent measurement uncertainties into the deconvolution calculations, the resulting models show decreased stability and accuracy compared to inversions assuming depth‐independent measurement errors. The cement experiments involved varying directions and uniform intensities downcore, and very good accuracy was obtained using all of the methods when the signal/noise ratio was greater than a few hundred and the sampling interval no larger than half the length scale of magnetization changes. Addition of synthetic noise or reduction of sampling density decreased the resolution and accuracy of all the methods equally. The sediment‐core experiment involved uniform (axial) magnetization direction and strongly varying intensities downcore. Intensity variations are well resolved and directions are accurate to within about 5 degrees, with errors attributable to omission and/or inaccurate calibration of cross terms in the instrument response function.
Inertial‐range anisotropies in the solar wind from 0.3 to 1 AU: Helios 1 observations
Authors: MacBride Benjamin T. , Smith Charles W. , Vasquez Bernard J.
Published: July 2010

In this study we analyze the evolution of solar wind turbulence from 0.3 to 1 AU using a database of 387 intervals from the Helios 1 spacecraft. Our results uphold the conclusion made by Smith et al. (2006), who used data from 1 AU, that the magnetic variance anisotropy scales with both proton beta and the amplitude of fluctuations in the power spectrum all the way down to 0.3 AU. We confirm the result of Bieber et al. (1996) that ∼80% of the energy is contained in the wave vectors perpendicular to the mean magnetic field and in light of Dasso et al. (2005) we compute the fraction of energy in field‐aligned wave vectors for high‐ and low‐speed intervals separately. As Hamilton et al. found at 1 AU, we also see no clear reliance of the energy contained in parallel and perpendicular wave vectors based on wind speed at any heliocentric distance between 0.3 and 1 AU in the range of frequencies we study (5 to 20 mHz). These results combine to tell the story that the turbulent properties of the solar wind we analyze are fully consistent with the 1 AU observations and no discernable evolution can be found.
Solar cycle variation of geosynchronous plasma mass density derived from the frequency of standing Alfvén waves
Authors: Takahashi Kazue , Denton Richard E. , Singer Howard J.
Published: July 2010

We have studied the solar cycle variation of equatorial plasma mass density ρeq in the plasma trough at geosynchronous altitude. The density was indirectly determined from the frequency, fT3, of the third harmonic of toroidal standing Alfvén waves detected over a 12 year period from 1980 to 1991 with magnetometers on five Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). Realistic models of the ambient magnetic field and field line mass distribution were used in numerically solving the wave equation to relate fT3 to ρeq. Scanning the magnetometer data in a 30 min time window that moved forward in 10 min steps, we obtained 228,382 fT3 samples equivalent to 1586 days of data. The detection rate of fT3 is highest (∼50%) in the prenoon sector, and fT3 and ρeq samples from this sector were used to examine their dependence on F10.7, Kp, and Dst. Overall, F10.7 exhibits the highest correlation with fT3 and ρeq, implying that the solar UV/EUV control of ion production at the ionospheric height is strongly reflected in mass density variations at geosynchronous orbit. Using 27 day medians computed excluding periods of plasmasphere expansion to geosynchronous orbit and geomagnetic storm, we obtained the empirical formula fT3 (mHz) = 38 − 0.097F10.7 and logρeq (amu cm−3) = 0.42 + 0.0039F10.7, where F10.7 is given in the solar flux units 10−22 W · m−2 · Hz−1. This last formula means that with the 27 day F10.7 in the range of 68–255 in the selected solar cycle, the mass density varied by a factor of ∼5 from ∼5 to ∼26 amu cm−3. During extremely quiet times (Kp averaged using a 3 day time scale <1), for which the plasmasphere may extend out to geosynchronous orbit, and during storm periods (Dst < −50 nT), the mass density may be enhanced beyond these values.