bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The lack of effect of isoflavones on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in adolescent boys: a 6-week randomised trial
Authors: Dwyer Terence , Hynes Kristen L , Fryer Jayne L , Blizzard C Leigh , Dalais Fabien S
Published: September 2007

Background

A substantial fall in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) during puberty in boys, but not girls, has been reported in Western populations. The fall in boys is believed to be due to hormonal changes – androgens have been shown to be associated with lower HDL-C, whereas oestrogens are associated with higher HDL-C. The fall in HDL-C during puberty was not observed, however, in a study of Moslem boys in Israel, nor in a group of Japanese boys. A diet high in phyto-oestrogens may account for the lack of a fall in HDL-C in these populations.

Objective

To examine the effect of dietary supplementation with phyto-oestrogens on the HDL-C concentration of adolescent boys from a Western population. We hypothesised that dietary supplementation of 50 mg of the isoflavones daidzein and genistein would produce a 12% higher HDL-C concentration than in controls at the end of a 6-week intervention period.

Design

A randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Hellyer College in Burnie (Tasmania, Australia).

Subjects

Adolescent boys (aged 16–18 years) were recruited through a letter sent to parents. A total of 132 eligible participants enrolled and five subjects withdrew from the trial.

Results

No significant increase in HDL-C was observed in the treatment group (–0.02 mmol l–1, standard error (SE)=0.03, P = 0.53) or the placebo group (0.05 mmol l–1, SE = 0.03, P = 0.11).

Conclusions

Factors other than isolated dietary isoflavones may be responsible for the lack of fall in HDL-C during puberty in Japanese and Moslem boys.
Breast-feeding and maternal mental well-being among Bangladeshi and Pakistani women in north-east England
Authors: Noor Sayeda Z , Rousham Emily K
Published: September 2007

Objectives

To explore the relationship between infant feeding and maternal mental well-being among women of Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnicity; and to explore the sources of advice, information and support available to women before and after childbirth.

Design

A cross-sectional survey of infant feeding and maternal well-being via structured interviews conducted in the home.

Setting

Home visits within two inner-city wards of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Subjects

Eighty-six women of South Asian ethnicity.

Results

Enjoyment of everyday activities was higher among women who breast-fed only (P = 0.028); whereas feeling sad or crying during pregnancy was lower among breast-feeding women (P = 0.005), as was not sleeping well (P = 0.003) and feeling that everything was too much (P = 0.039), compared with women who used formula or mixed feeding. Women who breast-fed only had better mean mood scores than those who formula-fed or those who both breast-fed and formula-fed (P < 0.001). Mean mood responses were also significantly associated with the mother’s level of understanding of English and number of years in education (P = 0.005 and P = 0.003, respectively). The association between method of feeding and maternal mood remained strong after controlling for the effects of English language and maternal education.

Conclusions

The study suggests that breast-feeding may be an important mediator of maternal mental well-being after childbirth. Community-based programmes tailored to the needs of Bangladeshi and Pakistani women which support breast-feeding and encourage exclusive breast-feeding may be of benefit.
Formation and spreading of Antarctic deep and bottom waters inferred from a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) simulation
Authors: Rodehacke C. B. , Hellmer H. H. , Beckmann A. , Roether W.
Published: September 2007

The formation of deep and bottom waters along Antarctica's perimeter is determined by ocean interaction with the atmosphere, sea ice, ice shelves, and bottom topography. It initiates a chain of processes that contribute to the ventilation of the global abyss. To identify the formation sites and investigate the combined effects of the local forcing mechanisms on water mass transformation and spreading in the Southern Ocean, chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) simulations with the regional ocean circulation model (BRIOS‐1) were performed. The model uses terrain‐following vertical coordinates to better represent both near‐bottom and mixed layer processes, and includes an explicit formulation of the ice shelf–ocean interaction. In agreement with observations, the results show the main deep and bottom water formations sites to be located in the Ross Sea, Prydz Bay, and southwestern Weddell Sea. The Ross Sea ventilates the South East Pacific and Australian Antarctic Basins. Both Ross Sea and Prydz Bay ventilate via the Antarctic Coastal Current the Weddell‐Enderby Basin. The latter signal is overprinted by sources in the Weddell Sea which ventilate the south Scotia Sea and also the Weddell‐Enderby Basin. Despite the general agreement between observed and simulated quantities like bottom layer CFC distribution and inventories along the Greenwich Meridian, the model tends to underestimate the ventilation of the abyssal ocean like other models with coarse resolution.
Runoff and solute mobilization processes in a semiarid headwater catchment
Authors: Hughes Justin D. , Khan Shahbaz , Crosbie Russell S. , Helliwell Stuart , Michalk David L.
Published: September 2007

Runoff and solute transport processes contributing to streamflow were determined in a small headwater catchment in the eastern Murray‐Darling Basin of Australia using hydrometric and tracer methods. Streamflow and electrical conductivity were monitored from two gauges draining a portion of the upper catchment area (UCA) and a saline scalded area, respectively. Runoff in the UCA was related to the formation of a seasonally perched aquifer in the near‐surface zone (0–0.4 m). A similar process was responsible for runoff generation in the saline scalded area. However, saturation in the scald area was related to the proximity of groundwater rather than low subsurface hydraulic conductivity. Because of higher antecedent water content, runoff commenced earlier in winter from the scald than did the UCA. Additionally, areal runoff from the scald was far greater than from the UCA. Total runoff from the UCA was higher than the scald (15.7 versus 3.5 mL), but salt export was far lower (0.6 and 5.4 t for the UCA and scald area, respectively) since salinity of the scald runoff was far higher than that from the UCA, indicating the potential impact of saline scalded areas at the catchment scale. End‐member mixing analysis modeling using six solutes indicated that most runoff produced from the scald was “new” (40–71%) despite the proximity of the groundwater surface and the high antecedent moisture levels. This is a reflection of the very low hydraulic conductivity of soils in the study area. Nearly all chloride exported to the stream from the scald emanated from the near‐surface zone (77–87%). Runoff and solute mobilization processes depend upon seasonal saturation occurring in the near‐surface zone during periods of low evaporative demand and generation of saturated overland flow.
U.K. Met Office forecast for Atlantic hurricane season
Authors: Anonymous
Published: September 2007

GloSea, the U.K. Meteorological Office's computer model of the global atmosphere‐ocean system, has predicted a cooling trend in sea surface temperatures in the tropical North Atlantic that will result in a less active hurricane season. The Met Office has predicted that there is a 70% chance of a less active hurricane season in the North Atlantic this year, with only 7–13 named storms occurring within the remaining five months of the season (July through November). There have already been two named storms this year—Andrea and Barry. From 1990–2005, there were an average of 12.4 storms during July–November. The U.K. Met Office forecast contrasts with NOAA's, which was released in May and predicted a busier season than average, with 13–17 named storms.
A wireless real‐time coastal observation network
Authors: Ruberg Steven , Brandt Stephen , Muzzi Ronald , Hawley Nathan , Leshkevich George , Lane John , Miller Terry , Bridgeman Thomas
Published: September 2007

A new integrated coastal observation system is providing preliminary data from the North American Great Lakes. This system can be implemented in other coastal regions. To date, it has been successfully deployed on Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie to make seabed to sea surface measurements of chemical, biological, and physical parameters, which are transmitted wirelessly through buoys and permanent stations.

Called the Real‐Time Coastal Observation Network (ReCON), the new system leverages existing networking technology to provide universal access to a wide variety of instrumentation through the use of an underwater Ethernet port server [Austin, 2002]. A team of NOAA engineers and scientists has completed the development and testing of this integrated coastal observation network.
Examining chemical transport into the stratosphere
Authors: Zielinski Sarah
Published: September 2007

This month, NASA will launch a coordinated field campaign centered in Costa Rica that will use satellite, ground‐based, balloon, and aircraft measurements to investigate how chemicals in the air move into the stratosphere and how this movement might affect cloud formation, climate, and ozone.

Scheduled to run from 16 July through 8 August, the Tropical Composition, Cloud, and Climate Coupling (TC4) campaign “is an unprecedented opportunity to use NASA's complete suite of satellite and airborne Earth‐observing capabilities to investigate a largely unexplored region of the atmosphere,” said Michael Kurylo, a TC4 program scientist at NASA headquarters.
Kenneth R. Weiss and Usha Lee McFarling receive the 2007 AGU Walter Sullivan Award
Authors: Clifford Frank , McFarling Usha Lee , Weiss Kenneth R.
Published: September 2007

Several 2007 AGU Awards were presented at the Joint Assembly in Acapulco, Mexico. Winners were introduced by President Tim Killeen in a formal ceremony held on 25 May 2007. An honors fiesta followed the ceremony.

It is my pleasure to nominate Kenneth R. Weiss and Usha Lee McFarling of the Los Angeles Times, and their five‐part series “Altered Oceans,” for the AGU Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Science Journalism—Features.
Betsy Mason receives the 2007 AGU Perlman Award
Authors: Borenstein Daniel , Mason Betsy
Published: September 2007

Californians live in a state of denial. The 100th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake provided a window of opportunity—a time for journalists to remind Bay Area residents of the dangers of the next “Big One.”

We were fortunate to have on our staff a talented journalist who happens to also be a scientist. With calm clarity, Betsy Mason alerted readers to the dangers ahead, shaking us out of our cocoons.
Mark Abbott named as NSF Assistant Director for Geosciences
Authors: Anonymous
Published: September 2007

Mark Abbott, AGU member and dean of Oregon State University's College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, has been appointed assistant director for the Geosciences Directorate of the National Science Foundation. He will assume his new NSF position on 1 October 2007.

Abbott is professor of biological oceanography at OSU. He joined the OSU faculty in 1988 and became dean in 2001.
Update on digital library project
Authors: Anonymous
Published: September 2007

AGU is on track to deliver by the end of this year access to all articles published throughout its history and in the predecessor to JGR, Terrestrial Magnetism and Electricity, from vol. 1, no. 1 (1896) of that journal. To date, more than two thirds of journal articles (∼65,000) have been scanned. Books and Eos issues will be completed next.

When introduced, this digital library will feature searching and linking capabilities for both abstracts and reference lists and will be integrated with the current publications.
Advancing the Frontiers of Earthquake Science: Fifth International Workshop on Statistical Seismology, Erice, Sicily, Italy, 31 May to 6 June 2007
Authors: Hauksson Egill , Cocco Massimo , Console Rodolfo , Wiemer Stefan
Published: September 2007

Statistical seismology has been emerging as a new discipline at the interface between earthquake physics, earthquake statistics, hazard assessment, and society. A workshop in Italy was sponsored by the Italian Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), and the Japanese Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM), to discuss the state of the art and future directions.

Conference participants discussed how to use available tools and techniques of statistical seismology to advance earthquake science. Building increasingly accurate timedependent earthquake forecast models at various spatial and temporal scales is widely recognized as an important challenge, and various such models were presented and discussed at the workshop. Exploiting time dependence for hazard assessment requires us to develop a detailed understanding of the behavior of regional fault systems and corresponding earthquake catalogs spanning decades. We can no longer analyze individual faults or earthquake sequences in isolation.
Ancient sundials and maps reveal historical geomagnetic declination values
Authors: Mandea Mioara , Korte Monika
Published: September 2007

Long records of the evolution of Earth's magnetic field help in the understanding of the field's generating mechanism. Archeomagnetism and palaeomagnetism supply valuable low‐resolution information about the field over time ranges of centuries to millions of years. Higher spatial resolution can come from direct measurements of the field, but these are restricted to the past few hundred years.

In some places, such as London, Rome, or Paris, declination and inclination were frequently measured over the past four centuries [Malin and Barracogh, 1981; Cafarella et al., 1992; Alexandrescu et al., 1996]. In the early nineteenth century, measurements of field intensity became available, and the first magnetic observatory recording three field components (declination, inclination, and horizontal intensity) was installed by C.F. Gauss, in Göttingen, Germany, in 1832. Since then, continuous observations of the vector magnetic field have been made by some 200 worldwide observatories, thus making it possible to obtain good, though still incomplete, knowledge of the detailed field morphology and temporal evolution.
Southern Ocean mapping program restarts
Authors: Ott Norbert , Schenke Hans Werner
Published: September 2007

The International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO) mapping program restarted at the end of 2006 after a 2‐year break. The program is based at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Since the program restarted, some important topics have been revised and updated: New bathymetric data are being collected by various cruises with R/V Polarstern; new expeditions are being planned and have been carried out to Antarctic waters; a mailing list for improved communication is being established at the National Geophysical Data Center; the IBCSO expert group is being revitalized; and the conceptual design and implementation of the program's geo‐database and metadata structure conceptual design and implementation are under way.
Rita Colwell receives National Medal of Science
Authors: Showstack Randy , Kumar Mohi
Published: September 2007

Colwell, director of the U.S. National Science Foundation from 1998 to 2004, was awarded a U.S. National Medal of Science in a White House ceremony on 27 July 2007. Colwell, currently a professor of microbiology and biotechnology at the University of Maryland at College Park and a professor at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, received the award for her research on global infectious diseases and marine microbes, specifically the bacterium that causes pandemic cholera. The National Medal of Science is the United States' highest honor for scientific achievement. Colwell currently serves on AGU's development board.
Eutrophication stresses U.S. estuaries
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: September 2007

A 31 July NOAA report on estuarine eutrophication, or nutrient pollution, indicates moderate to high level nutrient‐related impacts in 64 of 99 U.S. estuaries that had adequate data for evaluation. Lead author Suzanne Bricker of NOAA's Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment said that most problems in the estuaries are related to human activities. The report, completed in partnership with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, calls for improved management, monitoring, research, and communication efforts.

The report, “Effects of Nutrient Enrichment in the Nation's Estuaries,” is available at the Web site: http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/publications/eutroupdate/
Outstanding student paper awards
Authors: Anonymous
Published: September 2007

The following members received Outstanding Student Paper Awards at the 2007 Joint Assembly in Acapulco, Mexico. Winners in other sections and focus groups will be announced in subsequent issues of Eos.
Mission to Mars's northern polar region
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: September 2007

NASA's Phoenix Mars Mission, which launched on 4 August, is scheduled to arrive at Mars on 25 May 2008 to examine the surface of the planet's northern polar region, study the formation and melting histories of ice, monitor weather, and investigate the subsurface environment. “Our instruments are specially designed to find evidence for periodic melting of the ice and to assess whether this large region represents a habitable environment for Martian microbes,” said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson. For more information, visit the Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/phoenix.
Exploring the deep biosphere probing microbial systems at Earth' extremes
Authors: Sobecky Patricia
Published: September 2007

Deep drilling of marine sediments and oceanic crust offers a unique opportunity to explore how life persists and evolves in the Earth's deepest subsurface ecosystems. Resource availability deep beneath the seafloor may impose constraints on microbial growth and dispersal patterns that differ greatly from the surface world. Processes that mediate microbial evolution and diversity may also be very different in these habitats. Communities in parts of the deep subsurface may resemble primordial microbial ecosystems, and may serve as analogues of life on other planets that have, or once had, water. In short, the deep biosphere is one of the least explored biomes on Earth and deserves intense exploration.
Your subscription options for 2008
Authors: Holoviak Judy C.
Published: September 2007

The big news for 2008 subscriptions is AGU's digital library.

Members and institutions will be able to subscribe to the complete library of AGU journals and most books in electronic form. The library will include all AGU journals from volume I, issue I, through material published in 2002 and almost all books older than 5 years. The books and pre‐2002 journal articles will be scanned pdf's with html versions of titles, author information, and references. The references will be hotlinked to the abstracts of cited AGU articles and in some cases the abstracts of other cited publications. Full‐text searching of the material in the library will be available. The 2002 journal articles will be available in both html and pdf just as they were originally published.
Dynamical formation of an extra‐tropical tropopause inversion layer in a relatively simple general circulation model
Authors: Son Seok‐Woo , Polvani Lorenzo M.
Published: September 2007

The key factors contributing to the formation and maintenance of the recently discovered extra‐tropical tropopause inversion layer are presently unclear. In this study, it is shown that such a layer can form as a consequence of the turbulent dynamics of synoptic‐scale baroclinic eddies alone, in the absence of explicitly parameterized, small‐scale, radiative‐convective processes. A simple general circulation model, initialized from a state of rest, and driven with idealized forcings, is found to spontaneously develop an inversion layer above the tropopause under a wide variety of parameter choices and model resolutions. Furthermore, such a model is able to capture, qualitatively, both the latitudinal and (in part) the seasonal dependence of the observed tropopause inversion layer. However, the inability of our simple model to capture some detailed quantitative features strongly suggests that other physical processes, beyond balanced synoptic‐scale dynamics, are likely to play an important role.
Intra‐seasonal variability in tropospheric ozone and water vapor in the tropics
Authors: Ziemke J. R. , Chandra S. , Schoeberl M. R. , Froidevaux L. , Read W. G. , Levelt P. F. , Bhartia P. K.
Published: September 2007

Nearly two years of tropospheric O3 and H2O data from the Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instruments are analyzed to study the characteristics of intra‐seasonal oscillation (ISO) of 20–100 day periods. The analysis shows the presence of ISO signals in O3 and H2O throughout much of the tropics including the north Atlantic not shown in previous studies. ISO variability west of the dateline appears as a manifestation of eastward propagation of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO). Time series of tropospheric O3 and H2O are negatively correlated throughout much of the tropics, and mostly over ocean. This suggests lofting of air from convection as a basic driving mechanism, with convection transporting low amounts of O3 and high amounts of H2O upwards from the boundary layer. ISO/MJO related changes in O3 and H2O are a major source of variability and often exceed 25% of background concentrations.
Seasonal variation of particulate lipophilic organic compounds at nonurban sites in Europe
Authors: Oliveira T. S. , Pio C. A. , Alves C. A. , Silvestre A. J. D. , Evtyugina M. , Afonso J. V. , Fialho P. , Legrand M. , Puxbaum H. , Gelencsér A.
Published: September 2007

Atmospheric aerosol samples, collected continuously during a sampling period longer than 1 year at six rural and background sites representing oceanic, rural and continental environments across Europe, were extracted, fractionated and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The detailed organic speciation of the aerosol samples enabled the choice of some key compounds to assess the contribution of different sources. Lipophilic molecular markers were identified, including vehicle exhaust constituents, meat smoke tracers, phytosterols of higher photosynthetic plants and wood smoke components, especially from coniferous vegetation. The lowest concentrations and a quasi absence of seasonal cycle were observed at the oceanic background site of Azores. The highest values and a greater number of compounds were registered at the two continental lower‐level sites. Aveiro (a rural site close to the small coastal Portuguese city of Aveiro) and K‐puszta (Hungarian plains) both presented a seasonal variation with winter maxima attributable to a sizable contribution of wood‐burning and meat‐cooking sources. At the mountain sites (Puy de Dôme, Schauinsland and the high alpine summit of Sonnblick), concentrations maximized during summer as a result of the decoupling of the lower layers from the midtroposphere with wintry weather and the influence of boundary layer air masses during the warm season.
Dolomite as a tracer for the source regions of Asian dust
Authors: Li Gaojun , Chen Jun , Chen Yang , Yang Jiedong , Ji Junfeng , Liu Lianwen
Published: September 2007

The possibility of using dolomite as a source tracer for Asian dust was assessed. Samples of potential dust sources were systematically collected from the arid‐semiarid areas in north China. Dolomite, of detrital origin, was detected only in samples taken from the regions on the north margin of Tibetan Plateau (NMTP). Thus the NMTP‐originated dust can be detected by the presence of detrital dolomite, and applications are performed for the modern dust in Beijing and the ancient dust deposits of loess in north China. Contribution of the NMTP‐originated particles to the spring dust in Beijing and the loess in Chinese Loess Plateau and eastern Tibetan Plateau are suggested. However, dolomite cannot be detected in the studied dust‐storm dust and the loess in northeast China, indicating their sources other than the NMTP regions.
Introduction to Entertainment in Qajar Persia
Authors: Barjesteh van Waalwijk van Doorn L.A. Ferydoun
Published: September 2007

As far as written records and oral traditions indicate, entertainment in the Qajar era touched on all aspects of life, both public and private. Contrary to Western opinion about this period, Qajar society exhibited a great variety of entertainments, many of which (even when public) were not visible to the outsider, given the constraints of a strongly traditional society and of the class-bound nature of many of the entertainments requiring access to the court, the aristocracy or the inner sanctums of the houses of the grandees. Nevertheless, the picture that now emerges is one of plenty rather than penury, and a closer look at the variety of entertainments is thus eminently relevant and in order.
Amusements in Qajar Iran
Authors: Mahdavi Shireen
Published: September 2007

Social life in Qajar Iran was segregated by both gender and class. Parallel to social life were social pastimes and amusements which were generally segregated in the same manner. Foreign travelers to Iran, in true Orientalist fashion, frequently mention that people had few amusements. This paper will discuss various amusements and diversions, ranging from outdoor activities such as hunting and shooting, to physical and intellectual games, to high drama such as passion plays (ta‘ziya) and folk performances as well as street performers, puppeteers and mimicry, dancers and musicians, and to activities promoting leisure and enjoyment. It attempts to cover as many activities as possible, but it will also show that there was such a wide choice of amusements that it is, in fact, difficult to discuss them all.
Study design, exposure variables, and socioeconomic determinants of participation in Diet, Cancer and Health: A population-based prospective cohort study of 57,053 men and women in Denmark
Authors: Tjønneland Anne , Olsen Anja , Boll Katja , Stripp Connie , Christensen Jane , Engholm Gerda , Overvad Kim
Published: September 2007

Aims: Diet is considered an important aspect of lifestyle related to cancer development. To contribute further knowledge within this field a Danish prospective cohort study ``Diet, Cancer and Health'' has been initiated. The aims of this paper are to give a description of the study design, measurement procedures, and differences between participants and nonparticipants with special reference to socioeconomic characteristics. Methods: A total of 160,725 individuals 50—64 years of age living in Copenhagen or Aarhus were invited to participate. Information concerning diet and other lifestyle factors was obtained from 57,053 participants using questionnaires and interviews. Anthropometric measurements were taken and biological material collected. In addition, detailed (selected) socioeconomic information on all invited persons including 103,671 non-participants was obtained from statistical registers in Statistics Denmark. Results: Differences were seen between participants and non-participants on a number of socioeconomic factors. The highest participation in relation to education was found among participants with higher education, with a significant tendency to be highest in the second highest level of higher education (3—4 years). Married people were more likely to participate than persons living alone or cohabiting. Conclusion: Results from the prospective cohort study ``Diet, Cancer and Health'' support the general assumption that lower socioeconomic groups are underrepresented in epidemiological studies.
Mortality in relation to disability pension: Findings from a 12-year prospective population-based cohort study in Sweden
Authors: Karlsson Nadine E. , Carstensen John M. , Gjesdal Sturla , Alexanderson Kristina A.E.
Published: September 2007

Aims: Knowledge is limited regarding the association between disability pension (DP) and mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the relative risk (RR) of mortality associated with DP among women and men of different ages over a 12-year period, for DP in general, and for full-time DP, part-time DP, and DP for labour-market reasons, respectively. Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed covering the total population of the Swedish county of Östergötland aged 16—64 years in December 1984 (n=245,704) followed up from 1985 to 1996. The RR of mortality was analysed in relation to DP, age, and gender using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The RR of mortality was higher for DP recipients than for individuals without DP, and this was true for both women (RR 2.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.63 to 2.96) and men (RR 2.97, CI 2.83 to 3.11), and for all age groups. The RR of mortality was highest among the youngest DP recipients. The RR of mortality was especially high the first year of DP and remained elevated over the whole follow-up period. The RR of mortality among part-time DP recipients was lower than among full-time DP recipients and was significantly higher than seen for non-DP recipients. Individuals granted DP for labour-market reasons exhibited much lower RR of mortality than all other DP recipients. Conclusions: Further research is needed to investigate which factors explain the very high RR of mortality among disability pensioners.
Trends in socioeconomic differences in sickness absence among Finnish municipal employees 1990—99
Authors: Piha Kustaa , Martikainen Pekka , Rahkonen Ossi , Roos Eva , Lahelma Eero
Published: September 2007

Aims: This study examined the associations of key dimensions of socioeconomic status and long sickness absence spells as well as their changes over time from 1990 to 1999. Methods: Municipal employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland, aged 25— 59 were studied. The number of participants varied yearly from 24,029 women and 6,523 men to 27,861 women and 7,521 men. Socioeconomic status was assessed by education, occupational class, and individual income. The outcome was the number of over three days' sickness absence spells/100 person years, for which the employer requires medical certification.

Results: Low education, occupational class, and individual income were consistently associated with a 2—3 times higher sickness absence rates among both men and women. The age-adjusted sickness absence rates were relatively stable from 1990 to 1994 but increased from 1994 to 1999 among men and women. Socioeconomic differences in sickness absence rates tended to increase. Conclusions: The increase in the level of socioeconomic differences in sickness absence took place during a period of declining unemployment and staff increases at the City of Helsinki, which indicates that labour market conditions play a role in sickness absence.
Estimating disease prevalence using a population-based administrative healthcare database
Authors: Wiréhn Ann-Britt E. , Karlsson H. Mikael , Carstensen John M.
Published: September 2007

Aims: In Östergötland County, Sweden, all data on hospital care and primary healthcare (PHC) have been entered in a diagnosis-related administrative database since 1999. This database was used to estimate the prevalence of four chronic diseases and to examine the capture of data in PHC, outpatient hospital care, and inpatient hospital care, considered in different time frames. Methods: A case-finding algorithm identified patients with at least one healthcare contact involving a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 1999—2003. Prevalence rates were calculated as the ratio of the number of identified patients alive to the total number of inhabitants on 31 December 2003 (n~415,000). Results: Prevalence rates were 4.4% for diabetes, 10.3% for hypertension, 4.5% for asthma, and 1.2% for COPD. For all four diagnoses, the proportions of patients identified on only one healthcare level were greatest for PHC, reaching rates of 23%, 68%, 53%, and 48%, respectively. The cases identified solely in PHC comprised larger proportions of women and patients over the age of 65 years. Considering the proportion of patients identified in 2003 in relation to the total five-year period gave values of 71%, 50%, 38%, and 58%, respectively, for the four diagnoses. Conclusions: The administrative healthcare databases in Sweden today can be important tools in epidemiological research. However, data on several consecutive years and both PHC and hospital data are needed to achieve valid prevalence estimates.
Will forensic use of medical biobanks decrease public trust in healthcare services? Some empirical observations
Authors: Bexelius Christin , Hoeyer Klaus , Lynöe Niels
Published: September 2007

Aim: The authors tested the prevalent hypothesis that forensic use of medical biobanks has a negative impact on public trust in healthcare services. Method: A questionnaire was sent to 1,184 inhabitant in the age group 20—80 years in Stockholm County, Sweden, in November 2005. Results: With a response rate of 68.4%, the results showed that a majority (88.1%) of the respondents thought that it would be acceptable for the police to gain access to genetic samples stored in relation to healthcare; 5.6% said no and 6.3% were uncertain. In the case of police access to medical biobanks, a minority (6.3%) indicated that this would have a negative impact on their trust, a larger proportion (37.8%) that it would influence their trust in the healthcare services positively, and 56% stated that it would not affect their trust at all. Conclusion: The hypothesis tested appears to be unfounded. This should cause us to reconsider prevalent assumptions and current policies on the interface of medical and forensic genetics.
Uncovering the dark side of TNF
Authors: Bashyam Hema
Published: September 2007

In the early 1980s, in search of the cytokine that triggers disease- associated weight loss and lethal shock, Anthony Cerami and Bruce Beutler purified “cachectin.” They soon found out that their malevolent cytokine already had another name—tumor necrosis factor (TNF)—and was being lauded as a potential antitumor agent.
Gyrokinetic simulation of zonal flows and ion temperature gradient turbulence in helical systems
Authors: Watanabe T.-H. , Sugama H. , Ferrando-Margalet S.
Published: September 2007

The gyrokinetic-Vlasov simulation code (GKV code) is applied to zonal flows and the ion temperature gradient (ITG) turbulence in helical systems withL= 2 andM= 10 like the Large Helical Device (whereLandMdenote poloidal and toroidal periodicities of the main helical component of the confinement field, respectively) for the standard and inward-shifted model configurations. Because of the slower radial drift motion of helical-ripple-trapped particles, the inward-shifted case provides a higher zonal-flow response than that in the standard model with smaller side-band helical field components. The nonlinear GKV simulations show that the ITG turbulent transport in the inward-shifted model, which has larger growth rates of the ITG stability, is regulated by the zonal flows to a level comparable to the standard case.
An error model for protein quantification
Authors: Kreutz C. , Rodriguez M.M. Bartolome , Maiwald T. , Seidl M. , Blum H.E. , Mohr L. , Timmer J.
Published: September 2007

Motivation: Quantitative experimental data is the critical bottleneck in the modeling of dynamic cellular processes in systems biology. Here, we present statistical approaches improving reproducibility of protein quantification by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting.

Results: Based on a large data set with more than 3600 data points, we unravel that the main sources of biological variability and experimental noise are multiplicative and log-normally distributed. Therefore, we suggest a log-transformation of the data to obtain additive normally distributed noise. After this transformation, common statistical procedures can be applied to analyze the data.

An error model is introduced to account for technical as well as biological variability. Elimination of these systematic errors decrease variability of measurements and allow for a more precise estimation of underlying dynamics of protein concentrations in cellular signaling.

The proposed error model is relevant for simulation studies, parameter estimation and model selection, basic tools of systems biology.

Availability: Matlab and R code is available from the authors on request. The data can be downloaded from our website www.fdm.uni-freiburg.de/∼ckreutz/data.

Contact:  ckreutz@fdm.uni-freiburg.de
Bayesian Approaches for Limited Dependent Variable Change Point Problems
Authors: Spirling Arthur
Published: September 2007

Limited dependent variable (LDV) data are common in political science, and political methodologists have given much good advice on dealing with them. We review some methods for LDV “change point problems” and demonstrate the use of Bayesian approaches for count, binary, and duration-type data. Our applications are drawn from American politics, Comparative politics, and International Political Economy. We discuss the tradeoffs both philosophically and computationally. We conclude with possibilities for multiple change point work.
Effect of Proofing Time and Wheat Flour Strength on Bleaching, Sensory Characteristics, and Volume of French Breads with Added Soybean Lipoxygenase
Authors: Junqueira Roberto M. , Rocha Fabrício , Moreira Maurílio A. , Castro Inar A.
Published: September 2007

Soybean lipoxygenase addition in wheat bread doughs is widely used to improve the crumb color and rheology but little is known about the variability of the activity of lipoxygenase under diverse breadmaking conditions. Thus the objective of this study was to evaluate how soybean lipoxygenase can affect bleaching, volume, and sensory characteristics of French breads when proofing time and wheat flour strength varies. A 3‐factor Box‐Behnken design was used in this study containing one block and three independent variables or factors designated by exogenous lipoxygenase activity (x1 = 0–71 unit/μg of protein), wheat flour deformation energy (x2 = 231–258 × 10–4 J), and proofing time (x3 = 2–6 hr). Breads were randomly prepared and all assays were repeated three times. Specific volume (from 5.8 ± 0.4 to 9.9 ± 0.4 cm3/g), sensory quality (from 5.2 ± 0.8 to 8.3 ± 0.6), and yellow hue (from 12.6 ± 0.5 to 16.2 ± 0.3) significantly changed (P < 0.01) among the treatments. Specific volume of the breads increased with higher values of wheat flour strength and proofing time (ŷvs = 7.5 + 0.9 x2 + 1.2 x3 +0.5 x2x3). Sensory quality improved at higher values of wheat flour strength and shorter proofing time (ŷsq = 7.8 + 0.7 x2 – 0.2 x3 – 0.4 x22 – 0.6x32 + 0.5 x2x3), while lower and more desirable values of yellow hue were achieved at longer proofing time, higher activity of lipoxygenase, and using stronger wheat flours (ŷb = 13.7 – 1.2 x1 – 0.5 x2 – 0.2 x3 + 1.0 x12 – 0.3 x1x2). All regression models showed a good fitness to the experimental data (lack‐of‐fit P > 0.05) and the difference between predicted and observed values were also not significant (P < 0.05). Our results suggested that proofing time and wheat flour strength have a greater effect on volume and sensory quality of French breads than soybean lipoxygenase. However, the bleaching effect of this enzyme showed positive interaction with proofing time and wheat flour strength, suggesting its application even when strong wheat flours are used for the manufacture of French breads.
A tDNA establishes cohesion of a neighboring silent chromatin domain
Authors: Dubey Rudra N. , Gartenberg Marc R.
Published: September 2007

DNA replication generates sister chromatid pairs that are bound to one another until anaphase onset. The process, termed sister chromatid cohesion, requires the multisubunit cohesin complex that resides at centromeres and sites where genes converge. At the HMR mating-type locus of budding yeast, cohesin associates with a heterochromatin-like structure known as silent chromatin. In this report, we show that silent chromatin is necessary but not sufficient for cohesion of the replicating locus. A tRNA gene (tDNA) that delimits the silent chromatin domain is also required, as are subunits of the TFIIIB and RSC complexes that bind the gene. Non-tDNA boundary elements do not substitute for tDNAs in cohesion, suggesting that barrier activity is not responsible for the phenomenon. The results reveal an unexpected role for tDNAs and RNA polymerase III-associated proteins in establishment of sister chromatid cohesion.
Tyrosine Phosphorylation Site Identification by MALDI-MS
Authors: Sickmann Albert , Meyer Helmut E.
Published: September 2007

INTRODUCTION

In this protocol, radiolabeled proteins are separated using SDS-PAGE and digested in-gel. The phosphopeptides are subjected to two-dimensional LC and identified by MALDI-MS and MALDI-PSD. The identification of eight tyrosine phosphorylation sites in the human Gab-1 protein is provided as an example of the method’s utility. The expression and phosphorylation of human Gab-1 with the insulin receptor kinase in vitro are summarized as an example of this approach to identifying phosphorylated tyrosine residues.
Serine/Threonine Phosphorylation Site Identification by ESI-MS: Figure 1.
Authors: Sickmann Albert , Meyer Helmut E.
Published: September 2007

INTRODUCTION

Much of the protein phosphorylation within cells is mediated by the activity of independent kinases. However, autophosphorylation of proteins is another way signal transduction pathways are regulated. This protocol is designed to distinguish between autophosphorylation and endogenous phosphorylation. For the localization of all endogenous phosphorylation sites, the protein is digested with trypsin and the peptides are analyzed by on-line coupling of nano-HPLC and ESI-MS. To determine the autophosphorylation sites, the protein is incubated with radioactive ATP prior to digestion with trypsin. Only 20 pmol of protein is used for each experiment. The stoichiometry of phosphorylated protein is below 5% of the total protein. Prior to analysis, the protein is separated by 10% SDS-PAGE and the protein band is excised. Before digestion, the protein is reduced and alkylated in both cases.
Isolating Total RNA from Mouse Embryos or Fetal Tissues
Authors: Nagy Andras , Gertsenstein Marina , Vintersten Kristina , Behringer Richard
Published: September 2007

INTRODUCTION

This RNA isolation procedure is suitable for tissue of almost any size, and is particularly useful for fetal organs or whole embryos from mice, as it can be performed in volumes as small as 0.5 mL. The minimum amount of tissue used should be ten 7.5-dpc (days post-coitum) embryos, one or two 8.5-dpc embryos, or approximately one-tenth of a 12.5-dpc embryo. If smaller amounts of tissue are homogenized in a 0.5-mL volume, the recovery of RNA may be less efficient.
Observational Methods Used to Assess Rat Behavior: Neurological Testing
Authors: Paul Carol Ann , Beltz Barbara , Berger-Sweeney Joanne
Published: September 2007

INTRODUCTION

The rat is the most frequently used animal for behavioral experiments, and several methods can be used to assess behavioral changes that result from modifications to its nervous system. Objective neurological tests can be used to establish a “behavioral baseline” for a normal animal, and to study the effects of drugs or a lesion on behavior. Neurological tests should be administered much like a doctor would administer a battery of tests after a trauma, with objective observation, precise documentation, and repeated measurements by the same experimenter. This protocol outlines a series of neurological tests designed to assess reflex movements in the rat. Male or female rats may be used, although data should be analyzed separately to determine if sex differences exist.
Observational Methods Used to Assess Rat Behavior: General Activity
Authors: Paul Carol Ann , Beltz Barbara , Berger-Sweeney Joanne
Published: September 2007

INTRODUCTION

The activity-inactivity continuum is an important parameter of behavior, and quantification of overall locomotor activity in the rat should identify it as a naturally nocturnal animal. Disruptions in nocturnal activity can be caused by damage in visual inputs to the brain or damage in the hypothalamus. Many commercial devices are available to measure activity automatically; some can be integrated with a computer to allow overnight monitoring in the absence of an observer. A less sophisticated but still accurate method of measuring activity is to create a home-made activity chamber by replacing the bottom of a box with Plexiglas or by marking lines on the bottom of a clean rat cage so that the observer can record rat activity by noting when the lines are crossed, while simultaneously recording other behaviors. Activity in rat pups can be observed as soon as they are 10 days old using smaller activity chambers. This protocol describes the construction of a home-made activity chamber and how to measure four activities: locomotion, rearing, circling, and grooming.
Rehydration of Drosophila Embryos
Authors: Rothwell Wendy F. , Sullivan William
Published: September 2007

INTRODUCTION

Fixed Drosophila embryos stored in methanol must be rehydrated before staining. Rehydration methods differ slightly for embryos fixed in methanol versus embryos fixed in formaldehyde; techniques for both are presented. An alternative, gentler rehydration method is also presented for studies where a new probe or antibody is being used.
In Vivo Retrograde Labeling of Neurons in the Zebrafish Embryo or Larva with Rhodamine Dextran
Authors: Volkmann Katrin , Köster Reinhard W.
Published: September 2007

INTRODUCTION

Application of a fluorescent dye to a target area of axons or dendrites allows the identification of individual neurons projecting to the area and reconstruction of the tract of the neurite by retrograde labeling. For the red fluorescent dye tetramethylrhodamine dextran, the labeling occurs by active retrograde transport inside the cell. This protocol describes a method for applying tetramethylrhodamine dextran to living zebrafish embryos and larvae (2-7 dpf [days post-fertilization]) via microinjection. It may be adapted for use with green or yellow fluorescent dextran conjugates.
Generation of Transgenic Xenopus laevis: I. High-Speed Preparation of Egg Extracts
Authors: Ishibashi Shoko , Kroll Kristin L. , Amaya Enrique
Published: September 2007

INTRODUCTION

Manipulating genes specifically during later stages of amphibian embryonic development requires fine control over the time and place of expression. These protocols describe an efficient nuclear-transplantation-based method of transgenesis developed for Xenopus laevis. The approach enables stable expression of cloned gene products in Xenopus embryos. Because the transgene integrates into the genome prior to fertilization, the resulting embryos are not chimeric, eliminating the need to breed to the next generation to obtain nonmosaic transgenic animals. The procedure is based on restriction-enzyme-mediated integration (REMI) and can be divided into three parts: (I) high-speed preparation of egg extracts, (II) sperm nuclei preparation, and (III) nuclear transplantation. This protocol describes the method for the high-speed preparation of egg extracts. Briefly, a crude, cytostatic factor (CSF)-arrested egg extract (i.e., cytoplasm arrested in meiotic metaphase) is prepared. These extracts are driven into the interphase stage of the cell cycle by addition of calcium, and high-speed centrifugation is performed to obtain a purer cytoplasmic fraction. This fraction promotes swelling of sperm nuclei, but does not promote DNA replication. By adding the egg extract to the reaction, the sperm chromatin partially decondenses, facilitating integration of plasmid DNA into the genome.