bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is short first‐trimester crown–rump length associated with spontaneous preterm birth?
Authors: Kazemier B. M. , Kleinrouweler C. E. , Oudijk M. A. , van der Post J. A. M. , Mol B. W. J. , Vis J. Y. , Pajkrt E.
Published: February 2012

Objective

To assess the association between first‐trimester crown–rump length (CRL) and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth before 32 weeks' gestation.

Methods

We performed a matched case–control study of 129 women with spontaneous preterm birth at < 32 weeks' gestation (cases) and 129 women with term deliveries (controls) using data stored in the ultrasound and obstetric databases of our tertiary referral center. Cases and controls were individually matched based on maternal age, parity, history of preterm birth and medical indication for antenatal care. Fetal CRL measured between 8 + 0 and 13 + 6 weeks was expressed as multiples of the median (MoM) expected CRL, based on last menstrual period. We investigated the association between CRL‐MoM and spontaneous preterm birth using logistic regression analysis.

Results

CRL‐MoM was not associated with spontaneous preterm birth: odds ratio (OR) 1.10 (95% CI, 0.89–1.36) per 0.10 MoM increase in CRL. Timing of measurement did not influence the model (P = 0.59). This was confirmed when restricting the analysis to the 93 pairs with CRL measurements made between 10 + 0 and 13 + 6 weeks: OR for preterm birth 1.07 (95% CI, 0.83–1.37) per 0.10 MoM increase in CRL.

Conclusion

A short CRL in the first trimester is not associated with spontaneous preterm birth before 32 weeks' gestation, thus short CRL cannot be used to identify women at increased risk of preterm birth. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Functionalism as a philosophical theory of the cognitive sciences
Authors: Polger Thomas W.
Published: February 2012

Functionalism is a philosophical theory (or family of theories) concerning the nature of mental states. According to functionalism psychological/cognitive states are essentially functional states of whole systems. Functionalism characterizes psychological states essentially according to what they do, by their relations to stimulus inputs and behavioral outputs as well as their relations to other psychological and nonpsychological internal states of a system. The central constructive relation for functionalism is the so‐called realization relation. Realization is a proposal for how psychological states can be real, physical, and causally efficacious while at the same time preserving the autonomy of cognitive explanations and avoiding reduction or elimination.WIREs Cogn Sci2012, 3:337–348. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1170

This article is categorized under:

Philosophy > Foundations of Cognitive Science
Automaticity and multiple memory systems
Authors: Ashby F. Gregory , Crossley Matthew J.
Published: February 2012

A large number of criteria have been proposed for determining when a behavior has become automatic. Almost all of these were developed before the widespread acceptance of multiple memory systems. Consequently, popular frameworks for studying automaticity often neglect qualitative differences in how different memory systems guide initial learning. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that automaticity criteria derived from these frameworks consistently misclassify certain sets of initial behaviors as automatic. Specifically, criteria derived from cognitive science mislabel much behavior still under the control of procedural memory as automatic, and criteria derived from animal learning mislabel some behaviors under the control of declarative memory as automatic. Even so, neither set of criteria make the opposite error—that is, both sets correctly identify any automatic behavior as automatic. In fact, evidence suggests that although there are multiple memory systems and therefore multiple routes to automaticity, there might nevertheless be only one common representation for automatic behaviors. A number of possible cognitive and cognitive neuroscience models of this single automaticity system are reviewed. WIREs Cogn Sci 2012, 3:363–376. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1172

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Memory
The molecular and cellular basis of gonadal sex reversal in mice and humans
Authors: Warr Nick , Greenfield Andy
Published: February 2012

The mammalian gonad is adapted for the production of germ cells and is an endocrine gland that controls sexual maturation and fertility. Gonadal sex reversal, namely, the development of ovaries in an XY individual or testes in an XX, has fascinated biologists for decades. The phenomenon suggests the existence of genetic suppressors of the male and female developmental pathways and molecular genetic studies, particularly in the mouse, have revealed controlled antagonism at the core of mammalian sex determination. Both testis and ovary determination represent design solutions to a number of problems: how to generate cells with the right properties to populate the organ primordium; how to produce distinct organs from an initially bipotential primordium; how to pattern an organ when the expression of key cell fate determinants is initiated only in a discrete region of the primordium and extends to other regions asynchronously; how to coordinate the interaction between distinct cell types in time and space and stabilize the resulting morphology; and how to maintain the differentiated state of the organ throughout the adult period. Some of these, and related problems, are common to organogenesis in general; some are distinctive to gonad development. In this review, we discuss recent studies of the molecular and cellular events underlying testis and ovary development, with an emphasis on the phenomenon of gonadal sex reversal and its causes in mice and humans. Finally, we discuss sex‐determining loci and disorders of sex development in humans and the future of research in this important area. WIREs Dev Biol 2012, 1:559–577. doi: 10.1002/wdev.42

This article is categorized under:

Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Sex Determination

Signaling Pathways > Cell Fate Signaling

Birth Defects > Organ Anomalies
Forecasting ramps of wind power production with numerical weather prediction ensembles
Authors: Bossavy Arthur , Girard Robin , Kariniotakis George
Published: February 2012

Today, there is a growing interest in developing short‐term wind power forecasting tools able to provide reliable information about particular, so‐called ‘extreme’ situations. One of them is the large and sharp variation of the production a wind farm can experience within a few hours called ramp event. Developing forecast information specially dedicated to ramps is of primary interest because of both the difficulties that usual models have to predict and the potential risk they represent in the management of a power system. First, we propose a methodology to characterize ramps of wind power production with a derivative filtering approach derived from the edge detection literature. Then we investigate the skill of numerical weather prediction ensembles to make probabilistic forecasts of ramp occurrence. Through conditioning probability forecasts of ramp occurrence to the number of ensemble members forecasting a ramp in time intervals, we show how ensembles can be used to provide reliable forecasts of ramps with sharpness. Our study relies on 18 months of wind power measures from an 8 MW wind farm located in France and forecasts ensemble of 51 members from the Ensemble Prediction System of the European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scandium as an Element Intermediate between Rare Earth and Transition Metals in Intermetallics: Crystal Structures of Sc2Fe12P7, Sc3.6Fe10.4P7, and Sc2Co4P3. Other New Compounds with Zr2Fe12P7, Hf2Co4P3, Sc5Co19P12, and Yb6Co30P19 Type Structures
Authors: Jeitschko Wolfgang , Meisen Ulrich , Reinbold Elke J.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Twenty five ternary phosphides crystallizing with four different but closely related structure types were prepared using elemental tin as a flux. Their lattice constants are reported. New compounds include Sc2Fe12P7, Sc3.6Fe10.4P7, Y2Co12P7, and Hf2T12P7 with T = Fe, Co, Ni. They crystallize with the hexagonal Zr2Fe12P7 type structure, which was refined from single‐crystal X‐ray data of Sc3.6Fe10.4P7: a = 944.1(1) pm, c = 363.4(1) pm, R = 0.041 for 719 unique structure factors and 23 variable parameters. The excess scandium atoms occupy one of the four iron sites of the Zr2Fe12P7 type structure which has a higher coordination number than the other three iron sites. The two isotypic phosphides Sc2Fe12P7 and Sc3.6Fe10.4P7 do not form a continuous series of solid solutions. The new compounds Sc2Co4P3 and Sc2Ni4P3 are isotypic with Hf2Co4P3. This hexagonal structure was refined for Sc2Co4P3 from single crystal data: a = 1211.5(2) pm, c = 363.7(1) pm, R = 0.025 for 500 Fo and 38 variables. Other new compounds reported are Sc5Ni19P12, Zr5Fe19P12, Hf5Fe19P12, and Hf5Co19P12 which crystallize with Sc5Co19P12 type structure, and the Yb6Co30P19 type phosphides Sc6Co30P19, Zr6Co30P19, and Hf6Co30P19. The structural relationships of these ternary phosphides are discussed with special attention to the environments of the transition metal atoms.
Donor Age Affects Liver Regeneration during Early Period in the Graft Liver and Late Period in the Remnant Liver after Living Donor Liver Transplantation
Authors: Tanemura Akihiro , Mizuno Shugo , Wada Hideo , Yamada Tomomi , Nobori Tsutomu , Isaji Shuji
Published: February 2012

Background

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of donor age on liver regeneration and surgical outcomes in recipients and donors.

Patients and methods

Among 101 cases of adult‐to‐adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) between March 2002 and March 2011, according to donor age: younger (Y) <50 years of age or older (O) ≥50 years of age, the donors and recipients using right (R) or left (L) graft were divided into groups Y/R (n = 51) and O/R (n = 17), and groups Y/L (n = 26) and O/L (n = 7), respectively. Remnant liver volume (RemLV) and graft liver volume (GLV) were estimated by computed tomography (CT) volumetry. A disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type I domain 13 (ADAMTS13) activities and von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen levels were measured as factors reflecting thrombotic microangiopathy.

Results

Among the donors, RemLV/total liver volume (TLV) was lower in group O/R than in group Y/R, although there were no significant differences by t‐test with the Bonferroni correction (rough p value = 0.02 at 6 months and rough p value > 0.05 at 1, 3, and 12 months). Donor age (≥50 years) was independently correlated with impaired remnant liver regeneration at 6 months in right lobe LDLT (p = 0.04). Among the recipients, GLV/standard liver volume (SLV) was lower during the first month, although there were no significant differences between the two groups by t‐test with the Bonferroni correction (rough p value = 0.03 at 1 week and rough p value >0.05 at 2 weeks and 1 and 3 months). Donor age (≥50 years) was independently correlated with impaired graft liver regeneration at 1 week in both right and left lobe LDLT (p < 0.05). ADAMTS13 activities were lower in group O/R than in group Y/R, although there were no significant differences by t‐test with the Bonferroni correction (rough p value = 0.049 on postoperative days (POD) 1 and 28 and rough p value >0.05 on POD 7 and 14). vWF/ADAMTW13 ratios were higher on POD 14, although there were no significant differences between the two groups by t‐test with the Bonferroni correction (rough p value = 0.044 on POD 14 and rough p value >0.05 on POD 1, 7, 14, and 28).

Conclusions

The surgical outcomes using older donor livers for LDLT were comparable to those using younger donor livers. When using older donor livers, however, we should pay attention to the liver volume for recipients as well as donors, because older donor livers might have impaired regenerative ability.
Partial deletion ofrng(RNase G)-enhanced homoethanol fermentation of xylose by the non-transgenicEscherichia coliRM10
Authors: Manow Ryan , Wang Jinhua , Wang Yongze , Zhao Jinfang , Garza Erin , Iverson Andrew , Finan Chris , Grayburn Scott , Zhou Shengde
Published: February 2012

Previously, a native homoethanol pathway was engineered in Escherichia coli B by deletions of competing pathway genes and anaerobic expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH encoded by aceEF-lpd). The resulting ethanol pathway involves glycolysis, PDH, and alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhE). The E. coli B-derived ethanologenic strain SZ420 was then further improved for ethanol tolerance (up to 40 g l−1 ethanol) through adaptive evolution. However, the resulting ethanol tolerant mutant, SZ470, was still unable to complete fermentation of 75 g l−1 xylose, even though the theoretical maximum ethanol titer would have been less than 40 g l−1 should the fermentation have reached completion. In this study, the cra (encoding for a catabolite repressor activator) and the HSR2 region of rng (encoding for RNase G) were deleted from SZ470 in order to improve xylose fermentation. Deletion of the HSR2 domain resulted in significantly increased mRNA levels (47-fold to 409-fold) of multiple glycolytic genes (pgi, tpiA, gapA, eno), as well as the engineered ethanol pathway genes (aceEF-lpd, adhE) and the transcriptional regulator Fnr (fnr). The higher adhE mRNA level resulted in increased AdhE activity (>twofold). Although not measured, the increase of other mRNAs might also enhance expressions of their encoding proteins. The increased enzymes would then enable the resulting strain, RM10, to achieve increased cell growth and complete fermentation of 75 g l−1 xylose with an 84% improved ethanol titer (35 g l−1), compared to that (19 g l−1) obtained by the parent, SZ470. However, deletion of cra resulted in a negative impact on cell growth and xylose fermentation, suggesting that Cra is important for long-term fermentative cell growth.
Weak competitive ability may explain decline of Taxus baccata
Authors: Iszkuło Grzegorz , Didukh Yakiv , Giertych Marian J. , Jasińska Anna K. , Sobierajska Karolina , Szmyt Janusz
Published: February 2012

Context

Taxuswoodlands suffer from a lack of natural regeneration across its whole distribution range.

Aims

In Knyazhdvir Reserve in UkraineTaxus baccataprimarily competes withAbies alba. It has been assumed that in the conditions of deep shade, yews have a greater competitive advantage than firs.

Methods

To verify this hypothesis, a plot with both species growing under the canopy was established. Wood samples were taken from 20 trees ofT. baccataand 20 trees ofA. alba.

Results

There were no differences in the mean tree-ring width, height and age between both species. Due to a lack of spatial separation of both species, yews and firs inhabited the same area in the analysed plot. Fir seedlings (up to 0.5 m) were recorded to grow under yew saplings (above 0.5 m), but the inverse situation of yew seedlings growing under fir saplings was not seen.

Conclusion

Seedling distribution, tree-ring growth rate, possibility of growth of fir seedlings under yew saplings and greater potential growth suggested that fir was predisposed to having the competitive edge over yew. Our results may confirm the hypothesis thatT. baccatahas a restricted distribution because of weak competitive abilities and can exist only in habitats where faster growing species are absent. The results call into question the prevailing opinion that human influences are the principal cause for the decline ofT. baccata.
Forensic Science in Healthcare: Caring for Patients, Preserving the Evidence
Authors: Fawcett Phyllis J.
Published: February 2012

Forensic Science in Healthcare: Caring for Patients, Preserving the Evidence Connie Darnell 2011, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group 373 pages, softcover
Crystal structure of Cmr2 suggests a nucleotide cyclase‐related enzyme in type III CRISPR‐Cas systems
Authors: Zhu Xing , Ye Keqiong
Published: February 2012

CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) mediate sequence‐specific silencing of invading viruses and plasmids in prokaryotes. The crRNA–Cmr protein complex cleaves complementary RNA. We report the crystal structure of Pyrococcus furiosus Cmr2 (Cas10), a component of this Cmr complex and the signature protein in type III CRISPR systems. The structure reveals a nucleotide cyclase domain with a set of conserved catalytic residues that associates with an unexpected deviant cyclase domain like dimeric cyclases. Additionally, two helical domains resemble the thumb domain of A‐family DNA polymerase and Cmr5, respectively. Our results suggest that Cmr2 possesses novel enzymatic activity that remains to be elucidated.
MAP kinases bind endothelial nitric oxide synthase
Authors: Chrestensen Carol A. , McMurry Jonathan L. , Salerno John C.
Published: February 2012

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) contains a motif similar to recognition sequences in known MAPK binding partners. In optical biosensing experiments, eNOS bound p38 and ERK with ∼100 nM affinity and complex kinetics. Binding is diffusion‐limited (kon ∼ .15 × 106 M−1s−1). Neuronal NOS also bound p38 but exhibited much slower and weaker binding. p38‐eNOS binding was inhibited by calmodulin. Evidence for a ternary complex was found when eNOS bound p38 was exposed to CaM, increasing the apparent dissociation rate. These observations strongly suggest a direct role for MAPK in regulation of NOS with implications for signaling pathways including angiogenesis and control of vascular tone.
Torque-coupling and particle–turbulence interactions
Authors: Andersson Helge I. , Zhao Lihao , Barri Mustafa
Published: February 2012

A novel scheme for strong coupling between inertial Lagrangian point particles and a continuous Eulerian fluid phase has been developed. A full mechanical coupling can only be achieved if torque-coupling is applied along with the more conventional force-coupling. The torque vector acting from the particles on the fluid is expressed in terms of a new antisymmetric particle stress tensor which adds to the Stokes stress tensor. A strongly-coupled simulation of a turbulent channel flow laden with prolate spheroidal particles with aspect ratio 5:1 demonstrated that the inclusion of torque-coupling reduced the modulation of the turbulent flow field observed in a two-way force-coupled simulation. The spin and orientation of the spheroids were significantly affected.
Safety evaluation of vitamin A in growing dogs
Authors: Morris Penelope J. , Salt Carina , Raila Jens , Brenten Thomas , Kohn Barbara , Schweigert Florian J. , Zentek Jürgen
Published: February 2012

The safe upper limit for inclusion of vitamin A in complete diets for growing dogs is uncertain, with the result that current recommendations range from 5.24 to 104.80 μmol retinol (5000 to 100 000 IU vitamin A)/4184 kJ (1000 kcal) metabolisable energy (ME). The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of feeding four concentrations of vitamin A to puppies from weaning until 1 year of age. A total of forty-nine puppies, of two breeds, Labrador Retriever and Miniature Schnauzer, were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups. Following weaning at 8 weeks of age, puppies were fed a complete food supplemented with retinyl acetate diluted in vegetable oil and fed at 1 ml oil/100 g diet to achieve an intake of 5·24, 13·10, 78·60 and 104·80 μmol retinol (5000, 12 500, 75 000 and 100 000 IU vitamin A)/4184 kJ (1000 kcal) ME. Fasted blood and urine samples were collected at 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 26, 36 and 52 weeks of age and analysed for markers of vitamin A metabolism and markers of safety including haematological and biochemical variables, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptides of type I collagen and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Clinical examinations were conducted every 4 weeks. Data were analysed by means of a mixed model analysis with Bonferroni corrections for multiple endpoints. There was no effect of vitamin A concentration on any of the parameters, with the exception of total serum retinyl esters, and no effect of dose on the number, type and duration of adverse events. We therefore propose that 104·80 μmol retinol (100 000 IU vitamin A)/4184 kJ (1000 kcal) is a suitable safe upper limit for use in the formulation of diets designed for puppy growth.
An analysis of the implications of a change to the seasonal milk supply profile in the Irish dairy industry utilizing a seasonal processing sector model
Authors: GEARY U. , LOPEZ-VILLALOBOS N. , GARRICK D. J. , SHALLOO L.
Published: February 2012

A seasonal processing sector model was developed to simulate dairy product manufacture in Ireland. Outputs include the quantity of product manufactured, net returns and component values of milk (protein and fat) per month of year. Two milk supply profiles representative of mean calving dates of mid-February and mid-March were evaluated across three milk processing plants with differing capacities for cheese and casein. The analysis was carried out based on average Dutch National quotations over the period 2008–10. The mid-February mean calving date resulted in a lower peak supply with proportionately more milk produced in the months of January–March and October–December, which resulted in higher net returns across the three capacities analysed. Increasing the cheese and casein processing capacity resulted in higher net returns being generated.
Economic and agronomic impact of commercialized GM crops: a meta-analysis
Authors: AREAL F. J. , RIESGO L. , RODRÍGUEZ-CEREZO E.
Published: February 2012

The present paper presents a meta-analysis of the economic and agronomic performance of genetically modified (GM) crops worldwide. Bayesian, classical and non-parametric approaches were used to evaluate the performance of GM cropsv.their conventional counterparts. The two main GM crop traits (herbicide tolerant (HT) and insect resistant (Bt)) and three of the main GM crops produced worldwide (Bt cotton, HT soybean and Bt maize) were analysed in terms of yield, production cost and gross margin. The scope of the analysis covers developing and developed countries, six world regions, and all countries combined. Results from the statistical analyses indicate that GM crops perform better than their conventional counterparts in agronomic and economic (gross margin) terms. Regarding countries’ level of development, GM crops tend to perform better in developing countries than in developed countries, with Bt cotton being the most profitable crop grown.
Long-chain fatty acids and inflammation
Authors: Calder Philip C.
Published: February 2012

Inflammation plays a key role in many common conditions and diseases. Fatty acids can influence inflammation through a variety of mechanisms acting from the membrane to the nucleus. They act through cell surface and intracellular receptors that control inflammatory cell signalling and gene expression patterns. Modifications of inflammatory cell membrane fatty acid composition can modify membrane fluidity, lipid raft formation and cell signalling leading to altered gene expression and can alter the pattern of lipid and peptide mediator production. Cells involved in the inflammatory response usually contain a relatively high proportion of then-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid in their membrane phospholipids. Eicosanoids produced from arachidonic acid have well-recognised roles in inflammation. Oral administration of the marinen-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA increases the contents of EPA and DHA in the membranes of cells involved in inflammation. This is accompanied by a decrease in the amount of arachidonic acid present. EPA is a substrate for eicosanoid synthesis and these are often less potent than those produced from arachidonic acid. EPA gives rise to E-series resolvins and DHA gives rise to D-series resolvins and protectins. Resolvins and protectins are anti-inflammatory and inflammation resolving. Thus, the exposure of inflammatory cells to different types of fatty acids can influence their function and so has the potential to modify inflammatory processes.
Adaptation or Aesthetic Alleviation: Which Kind of Evolution Do We See in Saharan Herder Rock Art of Northeast Chad?
Authors: Lenssen-Erz Tilman
Published: February 2012

During the middle and late Holocene, the prehistoric inhabitants of the Sahara articulated their agency under conditions of aridification in part through aesthetic symbolic behaviour that became petrified, as it were, in ubiquitous rock art. Rock art, predominantly depicting domestic animals, continued to be produced throughout the later Holocene, despite deteriorating environmental conditions that necessitated other adaptive strategies. Artistic production appears to have ignored the environmental changes and evolved an aesthetic that, initially, celebrated animals for the function for which they were domesticated and, subsequently, for their looks, symbolic capital and potential to express status. In the most recent periods, art production evolves into a symbolism that is entirely based on, and communicated through, camel imagery.
Almost linear Büchi automata
Authors: BABIAK TOMÁŠ , ŘEHÁK VOJTĚCH , STREJČEK JAN
Published: February 2012

We introduce a new fragment of linear temporal logic (LTL) called LIO and a new class of Büchi automata (BA) called almost linear Büchi automata (ALBA). We provide effective translations between LIO and ALBA showing that the two formalisms are expressively equivalent. As we expect there to be applications of our results in model checking, we use two standard sources of specification formulae, namely Spec Patterns and BEEM, to study the practical relevance of the LIO fragment, and to compare our translation of LIO to ALBA with two standard translations of LTL to BA using alternating automata. Finally, we demonstrate that the LIO to ALBA translation can be much faster than the standard translation, and the resulting automata can be substantially smaller.
On projecting processes into session types
Authors: PADOVANI LUCA
Published: February 2012

We define session types as projections of the behaviour of processes with respect to the operations processes perform on channels. This calls for a parallel composition operator over session types denoting the simultaneous access to a channel by two or more processes. The proposed approach allows us to define a semantically grounded theory of session types that does not require the linear usage of channels. However, type preservation and progress can only be guaranteed for processes that never receive channels they already own. A number of examples show that the resulting framework validates existing session-type theories and unifies them to some extent.
A hierarchy of reverse bisimulations on stable configuration structures
Authors: PHILLIPS IAIN , ULIDOWSKI IREK
Published: February 2012

Van Glabbeek and Goltz (and later Fecher) have investigated the relationships between various equivalences on stable configuration structures, including interleaving bisimulation (IB), step bisimulation (SB), pomset bisimulation and hereditary history-preserving (H-H) bisimulation. Since H-H bisimulation may be characterised by the use of reverse as well as forward transitions, it is of interest to investigate these and other forms of bisimulations where both forward and reverse transitions are allowed. Bednarczyk asked whether SB with reverse steps is as strong as H-H bisimulation. We answer this question negatively. We give various characterisations of SB with reverse steps, showing that forward steps do not add power. We strengthen Bednarczyk's result that, in the absence of auto-concurrency, reverse IB is as strong as H-H bisimulation, by showing that we need only exclude auto-concurrent events at the same depth in the configuration.

We consider several other forms of observations of reversible behaviour and define a wide range of bisimulations by mixing the forward and reverse observations. We investigate the power of these bisimulations and represent the relationships between them as a hierarchy with IB at the bottom and H-H at the top.
Relationship between breast-feeding and adiposity in infants and pre-school children
Authors: Gopinath Bamini , Subramanian Indhu , Flood Victoria M , Baur Louise A , Pfund Natalie , Burlutsky George , Mitchell Paul
Published: February 2012

Objectives

We aimed to establish associations of duration of breast-feeding with mean BMI and waist circumference, as well as the likelihood of being overweight/obese, during early childhood.

Design

Cross-sectional, population-based study. Height, weight and waist circumference were measured and BMI calculated. Interviewer-administered questionnaire determined whether the child was ever breast-fed and the duration of breast-feeding.

Setting

Sydney, Australia.

Subjects

Infants and pre-school children (n 2092) aged 1–6 years were examined in the Sydney Paediatric Eye Disease Study during 2007–2009.

Results

Of the children aged 1–6 years, 1270 had been breast-fed compared with 822 who were never breast-fed. After multivariable adjustment, 1–6-year-old children who were ever breast-fed compared with those who were not had significantly lower BMI, 16·7 (se 0·1) kg/m2v. 17·1 (se 0·2) kg/m2 (P = 0·01). Decreasing BMI was associated with increasing duration of breast-feeding (Ptrend = 0·002). After multivariable adjustment, each month increase in breast-feeding was associated with an average BMI decrease of 0·04 kg/m2 (P = 0·002) and 0·03 kg/m2 (P = 0·03) among children aged 1–2 years and 3–4 years, respectively. In 1–2-year-old children, each month increase in breast-feeding duration was associated with a 0·06 cm decrease in waist circumference (P = 0·04). Significant associations were not observed among 5–6-year-old children. Children who were ever breast-fed v. those never breast-fed were less likely to be overweight/obese (multivariable-adjusted OR = 0·54; 95 % CI 0·36, 0·83).

Conclusions

We demonstrated a modest influence of breast-feeding on children's BMI during early childhood, particularly among those aged less than 5 years.
Trends of BMI and prevalence of overweight and obesity in Portugal (1995–2005): a systematic review
Authors: Carreira Helena , Pereira Marta , Azevedo Ana , Lunet Nuno
Published: February 2012

Objective

Locale-specific data on BMI and overweight/obesity are necessary to understand how the obesity epidemic is evolving in each setting. We aimed to describe the temporal trends of mean BMI and prevalences of overweight/obesity in studies that evaluated Portuguese adults and older people.

Design

Systematic review, conducted via a PubMed search up to January 2011 and independent reference screening and data extraction. Twenty-one eligible studies were identified. Data were extracted from the published reports and obtained from the authors of seven of the largest studies. Adjusted ecological estimates of mean BMI and prevalences of overweight/obesity were computed by linear regression.

Results

Between 1995 and 2005, when using data obtained from anthropometric measurements, overweight prevalence increased by 3·2 % and 3·5 % and obesity prevalence by 7·4 % and 1·3 % among women and men, respectively, while mean BMI did not vary meaningfully. When using self-reported information, mean BMI increased by 0·8 kg/m2and 0·9 kg/m2, overweight prevalence by 3·5 % and 3·7 % and obesity prevalence by 5·8 % and 5·5 % among women and men, respectively. Results from the 20-year-old conscripts (1960–2000) showed a marked increase in these outcomes in the last decades.

Conclusions

Our results show an important increase in overweight/obesity in younger ages. The trends in the indicators derived from self-reported data suggest an increase in awareness of the importance of overweight/obesity among the population.
Thermal degradation of organic material by portable laser Raman spectrometry
Authors: Som Sanjoy M. , Foing Bernard H.
Published: February 2012

Raman spectrometry has been established as an instrument of choice for studying the structure and bond type of known molecules, and identifying the composition of unknown substances, whether geological or biological. This versatility has led to its strong consideration for planetary exploration. In the context of the ExoGeoLab and ExoHab pilot projects of ESA-ESTEC & ILEWG (International Lunar Exploration Working Group), we investigated samples of astrobiological interest using a portable Raman spectrometer lasing at 785 nm and discuss implications for planetary exploration. We find that biological samples are typically best observed at wavenumbers >1100 cm−1, but their Raman signals are often affected by fluorescence effects, which lowers their signal-to-noise ratio. Raman signals of minerals are typically found at wavenumbers <1100 cm−1, and tend to be less affected by fluorescence. While higher power and/or longer signal integration time improve Raman signals, such power settings are detrimental to biological samples due to sample thermal degradation. Care must be taken in selecting the laser wavelength, power level and integration time for unknown samples, particularly if Raman signatures of biological components are anticipated. We include in the Appendices tables of Raman signatures for astrobiologically relevant organic compounds and minerals.
Microscopy Shows Neanderthals Ate Well
Authors: Carmichael Stephen W.
Published: February 2012

About 40,000 to 30,000 years ago, modern humans out-competed Neanderthals, and the Neanderthals became extinct. Some recent theories have speculated that Neanderthals had an inferior diet (predominately meat) that put them at a disadvantage. Evidence for plant foods is rare at sites occupied by Neanderthals, but this could be due to vagaries of preservation and insufficient attention to plant remains. In an ingenious study, Amanda Henry, Alison Brooks, and Dolores Piperno used microscopy to demonstrate that plants and cooked foods are present in dental calculus (the stuff the dental hygienist scrapes off your teeth) on the teeth of Neanderthals.
Ergonomics for the Invisible
Authors: Val-Khvalabov Vadim , Nelson Mike
Published: February 2012

Nanotechnology represents a major area for research and development and has already led to the introduction of hundreds of products that incorporate nanotechnology-based materials, components, or methods. It is an area of significant investment and economic development globally. NanoInk, Inc. designs and develops instrument systems used for nanotechnology research, education, and manufacturing. Our initial product was built to support sophisticated research programs in academic and government labs. It was based on a complex instrument that was difficult to learn and use: the atomic force microscope (AFM). In order to make our technology accessible and useful to a broader range of potential customers and markets, NanoInk developed a new instrument platform, NLP 2000, that is simpler to learn and operate by users who are not university-trained PhDs. This article will discuss several of the challenges, design goals, and approaches taken in developing this instrument platform.
Future Prospects for Defect and Strain Analysis in the SEM via Electron Channeling
Authors: Picard Yoosuf N. , Kamaladasa Ranga , De Graef Marc , Nuhfer Noel T. , Mershon William J. , Owens Tony , Sedlacek Libor , Lopour Filip
Published: February 2012

Electron diffraction in both SEM and TEM provides a contrast mechanism for imaging defects as well as a means for quantifying elastic strain. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is the commercially established method for SEM-based diffraction analysis. In EBSD, Kikuchi patterns are acquired by a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and indexed using commercial software. Phase and crystallographic orientation information can be extracted from these Kikuchi patterns, and researchers have developed cross-correlation methods to measure strain as well.
Bindungsmuster von Cannabis- und Ecstasykonsumenten
Authors: Schindler Andreas , Sack Peter-Michael , Thomasius Rainer
Published: February 2012

Fragestellung: Frühere Studien haben einen Zusammenhang zwischen Opiatabhängigkeit und dem ängstlich-vermeidenden Bindungsmuster aufgezeigt. In dieser Studie soll explorativ untersucht werden, ob sich dieser Zusammenhang auch bei anderen Konsumentengruppen findet. Methode: Mit dem Bindungsinterview nach Bartholomew wurden die Bindungsmuster zweier Gruppen abhängig oder missbräuchlich Cannabis (N = 19) bzw. Ecstasy (N = 31) konsumierender Jungerwachsener untersucht, die einen möglichst „reinen“ Konsum der jeweiligen Substanz betrieben. Ergebnisse: Die Cannabisgruppe wies überwiegend abweisende und unerwartet häufig auch sichere Bindungsmuster auf. In der Ecstasygruppe traten alle Formen unsicherer Bindung gleich häufig, aber kaum sichere Bindungsmuster auf. Schlussfolgerungen: Die deutlichen Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen sprechen gegen einen allgemeinen Zusammenhang eines einzelnen Bindungsmusters mit Substanzstörungen. In der Cannabisgruppe finden sich eine sichere und eine unsichere, überwiegend abweisende Untergruppe. Die Ergebnisse der Ecstasygruppe sprechen gegen einen einfachen Zusammenhang zwischen dem Konsum von Stimulanzien und einem anklammernd-aktivierendem Bindungsmuster, aber für eine deutliche klinische Auffälligkeit der Ecstasygruppe. Aufgrund des kleinen Stichprobe und des explorativen Charakters der Studie müssen die Ergebnisse an einem größeren Kollektiv repliziert werden.
Ridged sea ice characteristics in the Arctic from a coupled multicategory sea ice model
Authors: Mårtensson S. , Meier H. E. M. , Pemberton P. , Haapala J.
Published: February 2012

In this study, a multicategory sea ice model with explicit ice classes for ridged and rafted ice was used to examine the evolution of deformed ice during the period 1980–2002. The results show that (1) ridged ice comprises roughly 45–60% of Arctic sea ice volume and 25–45% of the sea ice area, (2) most of the perennial ice consists of ridged ice, and (3) ridged ice exhibits a small seasonal variability. Our results also show an increase in mean ridged ice thickness of 4–6 cm yr−1 during the summer in an area north of the Canadian Archipelago and a corresponding decrease in the East Siberian Sea and Nansen Basin. At the same time, Arctic sea ice age has been observed to decline and ice drift speed to increase during the simulation period. We connect these findings with a modeled regional increase in the production rate of ridged ice. Comparison of the multicategory model and a two category reference model shows a substantially increased ice production rate due to a more frequent occurrence of leads, resulting in an ice thickness increase of up to 0.8 m. Differences in ice physics between the multicategory and reference models also affect the freshwater content. The sum of liquid and solid freshwater content in the entire Arctic Ocean is about 10% lower and net precipitation (P‐E) is about 7% lower as compared to the reference model.
Vertical propagation of lakewide internal waves
Authors: Henderson Stephen M. , Deemer Bridget R.
Published: February 2012

Internal waves with diurnal period dominated velocities measured by an Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP) in a small lake (main basin 3000 m by 400 m by 18 m). ADP profiles and an along‐lake temperature section indicate that the observed waves, like seiches, had horizontal wavelengths exceeding the metalimnion length. However, unlike non‐dissipative seiches, the observed waves propagated vertically, carrying energy to the lakebed where waves were absorbed, rather than being strongly reflected. This absorption is predicted by a standard parameterization of boundary layer dissipation. The absence of upward‐propagating energy precludes seiche resonance, limits focusing of waves toward attractors, and suggests that hypolimnion dissipation was limited by the supply of downward‐propagating energy. Vertical wavelengths were less than the lake depth. Simplified calculations suggest that vertically‐propagating waves, as opposed to vertically standing seiches, are most likely where vertical wavelengths are short, near‐bed stratification is strong, and lakes are short and deep.
Seasonal characteristics of internal tides on the continental shelf in the northern South China Sea
Authors: Guo Pu , Fang Wendong , Liu Changjian , Qiu Fuwen
Published: February 2012

Three across‐shelf Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) moorings were deployed on the continental shelf in the northern South China Sea in 2006 and 2007, in order to obtain time series of ocean currents. During each of the three observational periods, in spring, autumn, and winter seasons, the observation was sustained for at least 1 month. Conductivity‐temperature‐depth data were also collected in the vicinity of these ADCP moorings. The two diurnal baroclinic constituents (O1 and K1) are found to be more prominent than the semidiurnal baroclinic ones (M2 and S2) at each mooring site, which are different from the barotropic tides. The highest diurnal (semidiurnal) baroclinic kinetic energy density exceeded 10 (2.7) kJ/m2 during the observational periods. In each observational period, the vertical structures of baroclinic tidal ellipses indicate mode‐1 characteristics for O1 and K1, whereas some of the semidiurnal internal tides show mode‐2 characteristics in autumn. Propagation directions of the diurnal and semidiurnal internal tides are basically across‐shelf, and their phase speeds estimated from phase changes and buoyancy frequencies indicate deceleration of internal tides, when the internal tidal waves propagate from deeper shelf break to shallower shelf. The increased stratification in autumn is favorable for maintaining internal tidal waveform and preserving internal tidal energy, while the intensity of the internal tidal flow decreases significantly in winter.
Accounting for initial condition uncertainties in COSMO‐DE‐EPS
Authors: Peralta C. , Ben Bouallègue Z. , Theis S. E. , Gebhardt C. , Buchhold M.
Published: February 2012

This study describes the experimental setup of an atmospheric ensemble prediction system (EPS) based on a high resolution numerical weather prediction model developed at Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD). The focus is set on uncertainties of initial conditions, and how to combine them with perturbations of the boundary conditions and model physics variations, discussed in a previous investigation. Two ensemble setups are constructed: one with model physics diversity and variations of boundaries (BP ensemble) and one which also includes perturbations of initial conditions (IBP ensemble). Experimental ensemble forecasts of precipitation with a lead time of 24 hours, for a period of 29 days in the summer of 2009, are generated. Deterministic verification shows that the inclusion of the initial perturbations does not decrease the quality of the forecast, with individual members of the IBP and BP ensembles being statistically similar. The probabilistic scores of the IBP ensemble are better than those of the BP ensemble during the first 12 hours of the forecast, and afterwards both have similar performances. Similarly, the IBP ensemble provides more spread during the first 12 hours of the forecast, decreasing to levels comparable to the BP ensemble afterwards.
A critical evaluation of the ability of the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) thermal infrared red‐green‐blue rendering to identify dust events: Theoretical analysis
Authors: Brindley Helen , Knippertz Peter , Ryder Claire , Ashpole Ian
Published: February 2012

Using a combination of idealized radiative transfer simulations and a case study from the first field campaign of the Saharan Mineral Dust Experiment (SAMUM) in southern Morocco, this paper provides a systematic assessment of the limitations of the widely used Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) red‐green‐blue (RGB) thermal infrared dust product. Both analyses indicate that the ability of the product to identify dust, via its characteristic pink coloring, is strongly dependent on the column water vapor, the lower tropospheric lapse rate, and dust altitude. In particular, when column water vapor exceeds ∼20–25 mm, dust presence, even for visible optical depths of the order 0.8, is effectively masked. Variability in dust optical properties also has a marked impact on the imagery, primarily as a result of variability in dust composition. There is a moderate sensitivity to the satellite viewing geometry, particularly in moist conditions. The underlying surface can act to confound the signal seen through variations in spectral emissivity, which are predominantly manifested in the 8.7μm SEVIRI channel. In addition, if a temperature inversion is present, typical of early morning conditions over the Sahara and Sahel, an increased dust loading can actually reduce the pink coloring of the RGB image compared to pristine conditions. Attempts to match specific SEVIRI observations to simulations using SAMUM measurements are challenging because of high uncertainties in surface skin temperature and emissivity. Recommendations concerning the use and interpretation of the SEVIRI RGB imagery are provided on the basis of these findings.
Transient water age distributions in environmental flow systems: The time‐marching Laplace transform solution technique
Authors: Cornaton F. J.
Published: February 2012

Environmental fluid circulations are very often characterized by analyzing the fate and behavior of natural and anthropogenic tracers. Among these tracers, age is taken as an ideal tracer which can yield interesting diagnoses, as for example the characterization of the mixing and renewal of water masses, of the fate and mixing of contaminants, or the calibration of hydrodispersive parameters used by numerical models. Such diagnoses are of great interest in atmospheric and ocean circulation sciences, as well in surface and subsurface hydrology. The temporal evolution of groundwater age and its frequency distributions can display important changes as flow regimes vary due to natural change in climate and hydrologic conditions and/or human induced pressures on the resource to satisfy the water demand. Groundwater age being nowadays frequently used to investigate reservoir properties and recharge conditions, special attention needs to be put on the way this property is characterized, would it be using isotopic methods or mathematical modeling. Steady state age frequency distributions can be modeled using standard numerical techniques since the general balance equation describing age transport under steady state flow conditions is exactly equivalent to a standard advection‐dispersion equation. The time‐dependent problem is however described by an extended transport operator that incorporates an additional coordinate for water age. The consequence is that numerical solutions can hardly be achieved, especially for real 3‐D applications over large time periods of interest. A novel algorithm for solving the age distribution problem under time‐varying flow regimes is presented and, for some specific configurations, extended to the problem of generalized component exposure time. The algorithm combines the Laplace transform technique applied to the age (or exposure time) coordinate with standard time‐marching schemes. The method is validated and illustrated using analytical and numerical solutions considering 1‐D, 2‐D, and 3‐D theoretical groundwater flow domains.