bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
More is not always better: Cost‐effectiveness analysis of combined, single behavioral and single physical rehabilitation programs for chronic low back pain
Authors: Smeets Rob J. , Severens Johan L. , Beelen Saskia , Vlaeyen Johan W. , Knottnerus J. André
Published: April 2008

Several treatment principles for the reduction of chronic low back pain associated disability have been postulated. To examine whether a combination of a physical training and operant‐behavioral graded activity with problem solving training is cost‐effective compared to either alone one year post‐treatment, a full economic analysis alongside a randomized controlled trial was conducted. In total 172 patients with chronic disabling non‐specific low back pain referred for rehabilitation treatment, were randomized to 10 weeks of aerobic training and muscle strengthening of back extensors (active physical treatment; APT), 10 weeks of gradual assumption of patient relevant activities based on operant‐behavioral principles and problem solving training (graded activity plus problem solving training; GAP), or APT combined with GAP (combination treatment; CT). Total costs, existing of direct health and non‐health costs and indirect costs due to absence of paid work were calculated by using cost diaries and treatment attendance lists. The Roland Disability Questionnaire was used to calculate the cost‐effectiveness to reduce disability and the gain in quality adjusted life year (QALY) by using the EuroQol‐5D. APT, followed by CT showed, although not significant, higher total costs than GAP. Reduction of disability and gain in QALY did not differ significantly between CT and the single treatment modalities. Based on the incremental cost effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and cost‐effectiveness acceptability curves CT is not cost‐effective at all. However, GAP is cost‐effective regarding the reduction of disability and gain in QALY, and to a lesser degree APT is more cost‐effective than CT in reducing disability.
Effect of 1‐methyladenine on double‐helical DNA structures
Authors: Yang Hao , Zhan Yingqian , Fenn Dickson , Chi Lai Man , Lam Sik Lok
Published: April 2008

Methylation at the N1 site of adenine leads to the formation of cytotoxic 1‐methyladenine (m1A). Since the N1 site of adenine is involved in the hydrogen bonding of T·A and A·T Watson–Crick base pairs, it is expected that the pairing interactions will be disrupted upon 1‐methylation. In this study, high‐resolution NMR investigations were performed to determine the effect of m1A on double‐helical DNA structures. Interestingly, instead of disrupting hydrogen bonding, we found that 1‐methylation altered the T·A Watson–Crick base pair to T(anti)·m1A(syn) Hoogsteen base pair, providing insights into the observed differences in AlkB‐repair efficiency between dsDNA and ssDNA.
Chromatin organization in relation to the nuclear periphery
Authors: Kalverda Bernike , Röling Michael D. , Fornerod Maarten
Published: April 2008

In the limited space of the nucleus, chromatin is organized in a dynamic and non‐random manner. Three ways of chromatin organization are compaction, formation of loops and localization within the nucleus. To study chromatin localization it is most convenient to use the nuclear envelope as a fixed viewpoint. Peripheral chromatin has both been described as silent chromatin, interacting with the nuclear lamina, and active chromatin, interacting with nuclear pore proteins. Current data indicate that the nuclear envelope is a reader as well as a writer of chromatin state, and that its influence is not limited to the nuclear periphery.
Dipyrithione inhibits lipopolysaccharide‐induced iNOS and COX‐2 up‐regulation in macrophages and protects against endotoxic shock in mice
Authors: Liu Ziwen , Fan Yumei , Wang Yu , Han Cui , Pan Yu , Huang Huang , Ye Ying , Luo Lan , Yin Zhimin
Published: April 2008

Dipyrithione (PTS2) possesses anti‐bacterial and anti‐fungal activity. In the present study, we found that PTS2 dose‐dependently inhibited the LPS‐induced up‐regulation of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) protein level in RAW264.7 cells. RT‐PCR experiments showed that PTS2 suppressed LPS‐induced iNOS but not COX‐2 expression at the mRNA level. As expected, PTS2 prevented NO secretion in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, PTS2 administration significantly decreased LPS‐induced mortality in mice. Mechanistically, PTS2 decreased expression and phosphorylation of STAT1, but did not interfere with the MAPK and NF‐κB pathways. In conclusion, PTS2 protects mice against endotoxic shock and inhibits LPS‐induced production of pro‐inflammatory mediators, suggesting that PTS2 could play an anti‐inflammatory role in response to LPS.
Binding of recombinant human coagulation factor VIII to lipid nanotubes
Authors: Parmenter Christopher D.J. , Stoilova-McPhie Svetla
Published: April 2008

Cryo‐electron microscopy has the power to visualise lipid membranes at the closest to in vivo conditions. The structure of the lipid bilayer can be well resolved and the interactions between lipid–protein and protein–protein molecules followed at the molecular level. We undertook an extended Cryo‐electron microscopy study to follow the factor VIII binding to phosphatidylserine containing lipid nanotubes at different lipid composition. Obtaining well ordered tubes is required to define the factor VIII membrane‐bound structure. The observed alterations in the arrangement of the protein molecules are indicative for the flexibility of the membrane‐bound factor VIII. Understanding the significance of these conformational changes is essential to comprehend the function of factor VIII in coagulation and as a drug for Hemophilia A.
Alpha‐lipoic acid induces apoptosis in hepatoma cells via the PTEN/Akt pathway
Authors: Shi Dong-yun , Liu Hong-lei , Stern Jeremy S. , Yu Pei-zhong , Liu Shan-lin
Published: April 2008

We report here that alpha‐lipoic acid (α‐LA), a naturally‐occurring antioxidant, scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) followed by an increase in apoptosis of human hepatoma cells. Apoptosis induced by α‐LA was dependent upon the activation of the caspase cascade and the mitochondrial death pathway. α‐LA induced increases in caspase‐9 and caspase‐3 but had no significant effect on caspase‐8 activity. Apoptosis induced by α‐LA was found to be mediated through the tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN)/Akt pathway. Prior to cell apoptosis, PTEN was activated and its downstream target Akt was inhibited. Our findings indicate that increasing ROS scavenging could be a therapeutic strategy to treat cancer.
The Arabidopsis thaliana aquaglyceroporin AtNIP7;1 is a pathway for arsenite uptake
Authors: Isayenkov Stanislav V. , Maathuis Frans J.M.
Published: April 2008

The data suggest that AtNIP7;1 can mediate AsIII transport and contributes to AsIII uptake in plants.
A comparison of toxicity of two dosing schemes for doxorubicin in the cat
Authors: Reiman Rachel A. , Mauldin Glenna E. , Mauldin Guy Neal
Published: April 2008

Doxorubicin is a commonly used and effective treatment for a variety of tumors in both people and cats. However, the use of this drug in cats has been associated with side effects such as renal injury, myelosuppression, anorexia, and weight loss. The goal of this study was to compare the toxicities associated with two dosing schemes for doxorubicin in tumor-bearing cats. Group A cats received 1 mg/kg of doxorubicin, while group B cats received 25 mg/m2 of doxorubicin plus 22 ml lactated Ringer's solution per kilogram body weight subcutaneously. Toxicities were evaluated using laboratory data, physical examination, and history, and were graded using a standardized scale and compared between groups. Post-treatment neutrophil counts were significantly lower among cats in group B compared to cats in group A ( P≤0.001), although complete blood counts were not evaluated at identical intervals in all cases. No other significant differences in the type, frequency or severity of clinical or laboratory toxicities were noted between groups, and no episodes of sepsis were recognized in either group. The results of this study suggest that higher doses of doxorubicin may not be associated with an increased risk of toxicity in the cat. Additional studies are still indicated to determine optimal dosing for doxorubicin in this species.
Parties, rules and government legislative control in Central Europe: The case of Poland
Authors: Zubek Radoslaw
Published: April 2008

A distinguishing feature of Central European polities is a strong policy-shaping role of parliaments. This article demonstrates how party political and procedural factors set the scene for the executive's loss of legislative control in Poland. Parties undermine the governmental grip because of their limited internal cohesion and competitive coalitional strategies. Parliamentary rules reinforce such party effects. The executive can shield its bills from amendments by relying mainly on partisan controls, not formal privileges. But, as an analysis of over 300 bills shows, when party discipline and coalition cooperation are in short supply, partisan controls are ineffective as instruments of legislative control.
Effect of the form of the sesame-based diet on the absorption of lignans
Authors: Papadakis Emmanouil N. , Lazarou Despina , Grougnet Raphael , Magiatis Prokopios , Skaltsounis Alexios L. , Papadopoulou-Mourkidou Euphemia , Papadopoulos Athanasios I.
Published: April 2008

The effect of different forms of sesame-based diets on the concentration of plasma lignans was assayed by estimating the levels of certain lignans (sesame lignans and enterolignans) in the plasma of experimental animals. In a series of experiments, male Wistar rats were fed either a raw sesame-enriched diet or a tahini-enriched diet. The plasma concentration of the lignans (sesame lignans and enterolignans) was determined at various time intervals over a 24 h period after a single administration. Enterodiol and enterolactone concentration in the tahini-treated group was significantly higher than in the raw sesame-treated group. In another series of experiments, male Wistar rats were fed, for 15 d, diets enriched in raw dehulled sesame, sesame perisperm, sesame oil, tahini and a polyphenolic extract derived from the seed perisperm. Enterodiol and enterolactone plasma concentration was high in the case of the sesame perisperm in spite of its low concentration in the assessed sesame lignans. Overall, the levels of the sesame lignans and enterolignans present in plasma seem to be influenced not only by the amount of lignan intake but also by other factors such as the form of the sesame-based diet.
UNTANGLING THE MANY ROOTS OF WEST AFRICAN MANGROVE RICE FARMING: RICE TECHNOLOGY IN THE RIO NUNEZ REGION, EARLIEST TIMES TO c. 1800
Authors: FIELDS-BLACK EDDA L.
Published: April 2008

This study focuses on the ancient past of coastal Guinea's Rio Nunez region, a coastal rice-growing region virtually unexplored by studies of West African rice and rice farmers. It argues that coastal cultivators have adapted mangrove rice-farming systems in situ for approximately the past 1,000 years, a historical period pre-dating the European travelers' accounts on which the current literature heavily relies. Rather than diffusing from the interior, these specialized farming systems grew organically out of land-use systems. Using the comparative method of historical linguistics and cultural vocabulary, the study establishes different stages in coastal farmers' experimentation, adaptation and specialization in the coastal environment and approximates historical dates when the different stages occurred. And with botanical and biological studies of mangrove vegetation, the study distinguishes between the softer, spongy roots of white mangroves and hard, twisted roots of red mangroves. The interdisciplinary evidence reveals that knowledge of white mangroves was an early formative stage in cultivators' fabrication of coastal land-use systems. Lastly, from an examination of loanwords, the study discusses the important contributions made by Mande groups, who speak the Susu language in the Rio Nunez region, in intensifying mangrove rice-farming systems indigenous to the coast and extending them from zones of white to those of red mangroves. The interdisciplinary methods and sources enable the study to capture localized experimentation and innovation as continuous processes, thereby breaking with the current literature's emphasis on diffusion from the interior to the coast.
OIL, BRITISH INTERESTS AND THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR
Authors: UCHE CHIBUIKE
Published: April 2008

Using newly available evidence, mainly from the Public Records Office (now the National Archive) in London, this article attempts to unravel the true extent of the role that British oil interests played in the decision of the British government to insist on a ‘One Nigeria’ solution in the Nigeria/Biafra conflict. While the official position of the British government was that its main interest in the Nigeria conflict was to prevent the break-up of the country along tribal lines, the true position was more complex. Evidence in this paper suggests that British oil interests played a much more important role in the determination of the British attitude to the war than is usually conceded. Specifically, Britain was interested in protecting the investments of Shell-BP in Nigerian oil. Furthermore, Britain was also at the time desperate to keep Nigerian oil flowing in order to mitigate the impact of its domestic oil shortfalls caused by the Middle East Six Day War. Supporting a ‘One Nigeria’ solution was considered its safest bet in order to achieve the above objectives.
Ion heating due to ionization and recombination
Authors: Evans R. G.
Published: April 2008

The charge on plasma ions may fluctuate due to random ionization and recombination processes. The resulting motion has a time dependent Hamiltonian and in simple cases, the ions steadily gain energy. Quantitative rates are estimated for some cases involving high Z plasmas.
Preventing falls and falls-injuries in hospitals and long-term care facilities
Authors: Oliver David
Published: April 2008

Falls are predominantly a problem of older people. In the UK, people over 65 currently account for around 60% of admissions and 70% of bed days in hospitals. There are approximately half a million older people in long-term care settings – many with frailty and multiple long-term conditions. The proportion of the population over 65 years is predicted to rise 25% by 2025, and that over 80 by 50%, with a similar increase in those with dependence for two or more activities of daily living. Despite policies to drive care to the community, it is likely that the proportion of older people in hospitals and care homes will therefore increase. Accidental falls are the commonest reported patient/resident safety incidents. Similar demographic trends can be seen in all developed nations, so that the growing problem of fall prevention in institutions is a global challenge. There has been far more focus in falls-prevention research on older people in ‘community’ settings, but falls are a pressing issue for hospitals and care homes, and a threat to the safety of patients and residents, even if a relatively small percentage of the population is in those settings at any one time.
Decoupled isotopic record of ridge and subduction zone processes in oceanic basalts by independent component analysis
Authors: Iwamori Hikaru , Albarède Francis
Published: April 2008

Isotopic variability in oceanic basalts indicates possible interactions among multiple mantle components or geochemical end‐members. Beyond the standard principal component analysis, which has been used so far to identify mantle components, the relatively new independent component analysis is well suited for extracting independent features in multivariate compositional space. Radiogenic isotopic compositions of oceanic basalts from the Atlantic and South Indian oceans, including both mid‐ocean ridge basalts (MORB) and ocean island basalts (OIB), show that two independent compositional vectors (referred to as independent components or ICs) account for most of the observed variations with three isotopic ratios of Pb (856 MORB and 781 OIB) or five isotopic ratios of Pb, Sr, and Nd (672 MORB and 597 OIB). In both cases, the first IC distinguishes OIB from MORB, while another maps the geographical distribution of a mantle component and in particular the DUPAL anomaly. This property shows that the two ICs indeed distinguish independent information and reflect two distinctive geodynamic processes, a feature which is not present in the conventional analysis of mantle isotopic variability. The first IC that distinguishes OIB from MORB is similar to the isotopic trend reproduced in the MORB‐recycling model of Christensen and Hofmann (1994). The second IC that discriminates geographical distribution is characterized by simultaneous enrichment/depletion of Pb, Rb, and Nd relative to U‐Th, Sr, and Sm, respectively, which can be explained by elemental fractionation associated with aqueous fluid‐mineral reactions. These geochemical characteristics, together with the fact that most of the observed multidimensional isotopic space is spanned by the joint distribution of the two ICs, indicate independent but overlapping differentiation processes which mostly take place within the depleted mantle domain. They are likely to reflect ridge versus subduction zone processes, or melting versus interaction with aqueous fluid. We use the regional distribution of the second, “enriched” IC to redefine the DUPAL anomalous mantle and show that in addition to its Southern Ocean type locality, it also distributes itself broadly in the Northern Hemisphere.
Kinematics and segmentation of the South Shetland Islands‐Bransfield basin system, northern Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Taylor Frederick W. , Bevis Michael G. , Dalziel Ian W. D. , Smalley Robert , Frohlich Cliff , Kendrick Eric , Foster James , Phillips David , Gudipati Krishnavikas
Published: April 2008

New GPS measurements demonstrate tectonic segmentation of the South Shetland Islands platform, regarded as a microplate separating the Antarctic Peninsula from the oceanic portion of the Antarctic plate. King George, Greenwich, and Livingston islands on the central and largest segment are separating from the Antarctic Peninsula at 7–9 mm/a, moving NNW, roughly perpendicular to the continental margin. Smith and Low islands on the small southwestern segment are moving in the same direction, but at 2.2–3.0 mm/a. The Elephant Island subgroup in the northeast moves at ∼7 mm/a relative to the Peninsula, like the central group, but toward the WNW. This implies that it is presently coupled to the Scotia plate on the northern side of the South Scotia Ridge transform boundary; thus the uplift of these northeasternmost islands may be caused by Scotia‐Antarctic plate convergence rather than by subduction of thickened oceanic crust.
Stable carbon isotope ratio of methyl chloride emitted from glasshouse‐grown tropical plants and its implication for the global methyl chloride budget
Authors: Saito Takuya , Yokouchi Yoko
Published: April 2008

Stable carbon isotope ratios of methyl chloride (CH3Cl) were measured in foliar emissions from 14 species of tropical plants growing in a glasshouse. The isotopic ratio of CH3Cl (arithmetic mean: −83.2 ± 15.2‰) ranged from −56‰ to −114‰; that from dipterocarp trees (−87.4 ± 12.3‰) was on average more depleted in 13C than that from tree ferns (−61.9 ± 9.7‰). The isotopic ratio was lower than that of CH3Cl produced by other known sources (e.g., biomass burning and salt marshes), with the exception of that by dead leaves. Using the distinctive isotope ratio of CH3Cl emitted from tropical plants together with previously reported isotopic data of CH3Cl sources and sinks to an isotopic mass balance calculation, global CH3Cl emission by tropical plants was estimated to be approximately 1500–3000 Gg yr−1 with uncertainties of 30–60%, which could account for 30–50% of the global emission.
Pc5 pulsations on the ground, in the magnetosphere, and in the electron precipitation: Event of 19 January 2005
Authors: Roldugin V. C. , Roldugin A. V.
Published: April 2008

In the first part of our paper, we consider the pattern of geomagnetic pulsations in the Pc5 range in the North European area, based on an event of 19 January 2005. Intense pulsations, observed in Lovozero at Kola Peninsula, were accompanied by auroras north of the station, recorded by an all‐sky TV camera. In the second part, we consider the global pattern of amplitudes and phases of geomagnetic pulsations for this event, which includes data from nearly conjugate stations and the magnetic data of GOES 10 and 12, confirming the quasi‐stationary model for magnetic field distribution on the ground. In the event, the auroral luminosity oscillated with the same 5 min period as the magnetic field. Magnetic data from Scandinavia and data from North Europe riometers show analogous pulsations. The maximal intensity of geomagnetic pulsations in this region occurred near the pulsating aurora, but there was a reversal of pulsation polarity in the X‐component. In the area of phase change the value of the Z‐component is maximal. We suggest that geomagnetic pulsating variations, observed on the surface, are determined by Biot‐Savart's law for a three‐dimensional current system, the extra‐ionospheric part of which is spatially coincident with auroral electron flux. The electric field in the ionosphere is found from the current continuity condition and the value of Pedersen conductivity. The directions to the pulsating current, calculated by using the magnetic data from Lovozero, are close to the directions of the auroral area. We also claim that this approach is applicable to all short periodic oscillations observed on the surface. Satellite data indicates the same periods, but with oscillations that appear to be poloidal on GOES10 and toroidal on GOES12, suggesting the traveling character of the wave.
A global model study of processes controlling aerosol size distributions in the Arctic spring and summer
Authors: Korhonen Hannele , Carslaw Kenneth S. , Spracklen Dominick V. , Ridley David A. , Ström Johan
Published: April 2008

We use a global chemical transport model (CTM) with size‐resolved aerosol microphysics to evaluate our understanding of the processes that control Arctic aerosol, focussing on the seasonal changes in the particle size distribution during the transition from Arctic haze in spring to cleaner conditions in summer. This period presents several challenges for a global model simulation because of changes in meteorology, which affect transport pathways and precipitation scavenging rates, changes in the ocean‐atmosphere flux of trace gases and particulates associated with sea ice break‐up and increased biological activity, and changes in photolysis and oxidation rates which can affect particle nucleation and growth rates. Observations show that these changes result in a transition from an accumulation mode‐dominated aerosol in spring to one dominated by Aitken and nucleation mode particles in summer. We find that remote Arctic aerosol size distribution is very sensitive to the model treatment of wet removal. In order to simulate the high accumulation mode concentrations typical of winter and spring it was necessary to substantially reduce the scavenging of these particles during transport. The resulting increases in accumulation mode lead to improvement in the modeled Aitken mode particle concentrations (which fall, due to increased scavenging in the free troposphere) and produce aerosol optical depths in good agreement with observations. The summertime increase in nucleation and Aitken mode particles is consistent with changes in local aerosol nucleation rates driven mainly by increased photochemical production of sulphuric acid vapor and, to a lesser extent, by decreases in the condensation sink as Arctic haze decreases. Alternatively, to explain the observed summertime Aitken mode particle concentrations in terms of ultrafine sea spray particles requires a sea‐air flux a factor 5–25greater than predicted by current wind speed and sea surface temperature dependent flux parameterizations. The enhanced total flux is clearly higher than measured in the Arctic and cannot explain the observed nucleation mode in the high Arctic. The model suggests that the summertime source of Aitken particles has very little effect on the accumulation mode and aerosol optical depth but they may contribute to cloud condensation nuclei in clouds with updraught velocities greater than about 15 cm/s. From a global aerosol modeling perspective, our understanding of Arctic aerosol is poor. We suggest several processes that currently limit our ability to simulate this challenging environment.
Analysis of the land surface heterogeneity and its impact on atmospheric variables and the aerodynamic and thermodynamic roughness lengths
Authors: Ma Yaoming , Menenti Massimo , Feddes Reinder , Wang Jiemin
Published: April 2008

The land surface heterogeneity has a very significant impact on atmospheric variables (air temperature Ta, wind speed u, and humidity q), the aerodynamic roughness length z0m, thermodynamic roughness length z0h, and the excess resistance to heat transfer kB−1. First, in this study the land surface heterogeneity has been documented through the comparison of surface reflectance r0, surface temperature T0, net radiation flux Rn, and sensible heat flux H partitioning over the different land cover types in the experimental areas of the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Asian Monsoon Experiment on the Tibetan Plateau (GAME/Tibet), the Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period (CEOP) Asia‐Australia Monsoon Project on the Tibetan Plateau (CAMP/Tibet), the Heihe Basin Field Experiment (HEIFE), the Arid Environment Comprehensive Monitoring Plan, 95 (AECMP'95), and the Dun Huang Experiment (DHEX). The results show that the surface heterogeneity was very significant in the areas of the HEIFE, the AECMP'95, and the DHEX and that it was less significant in the areas of CAMP/Tibet and GAME/Tibet. Second, the vertical profiles of Ta, u, and q in the near‐surface layer and above the blending height zb have been analyzed using the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) tower data, radiosonde data, and tethered balloon data observed during the HEIFE, the DHEX, and the CAMP/Tibet. The results show that the land surface heterogeneity leads in the near‐surface layer to different vertical profiles of u, Ta, and q overlying the surfaces of the Gobi and the oasis in the areas of the HEIFE and DHEX. The values of u, Ta, and q become well mixed above a height of about 300 m at the HEIFE and 150 m at the DHEX. z0m, z0h, and kB−1 over the different land surfaces have also been determined in this study. The results show that the land surface heterogeneity leads to different aerodynamic and thermodynamic parameters over the areas of the HEIFE, the AECMP'95, and the GAME/Tibet.
Submicron particles at Thompson Farm during ICARTT measured using aerosol mass spectrometry
Authors: Cottrell Laura D. , Griffin Robert J. , Jimenez Jose L. , Zhang Qi , Ulbrich Ingrid , Ziemba Luke D. , Beckman Pieter J. , Sive Barkley C. , Talbot Robert W.
Published: April 2008

The composition and size of aerosols were measured using an Aerodyne quadrupole aerosol mass spectrometer at Thompson Farm in Durham, NH, during the International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation campaign during summer 2004. Submicron, non‐refractory aerosol was dominated by organic matter and sulfate (averages of 5.7 μg m−3 and 3.6 μg m−3, respectively), with smaller contributions from nitrate and ammonium (averages of 0.3 μg m−3 and 1.02 μg m−3, respectively). Organic aerosol (OA) mass correlates well with anthropogenic tracers such as carbon monoxide (CO, R2 = 0.58) and black carbon (R2 = 0.59), but multiple analyses indicate possible contributions from primary, secondary, anthropogenic, and biogenic OA. Multivariate statistical analysis of the OA mass spectra indicates the presence of two types of oxygenated OA (OOA) and a hydrocarbon‐like OA (HOA) component that also contains contributions from biomass burning OA (BBOA). On average, the HOA/BBOA component accounts for 21% of the total OA mass while the two OOA components account for 24% and 55%, respectively, of the OA burden. Observed nitrate correlates well with OA (R2 = 0.67), suggesting interference, the presence of organic nitrates, processing/uptake of nitric acid by OA, or other temporally coincident processes because of the ammonia‐poor environment with respect to sulfate. The relative increase of OA with respect to background compared to that of CO (average of 72.7 μg m−3 ppmv−1) indicates values that are higher than those based on previous measurements in New England.
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) images of volcanic terrains from the first 6 months of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Primary Science Phase
Authors: Keszthelyi Laszlo , Jaeger Windy , McEwen Alfred , Tornabene Livio , Beyer Ross A. , Dundas Colin , Milazzo Moses
Published: April 2008

In the first 6 months of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's Primary Science Phase, the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera has returned images sampling the diversity of volcanic terrains on Mars. While many of these features were noted in earlier imaging, they are now seen with unprecedented clarity. We find that some volcanic vents produced predominantly effusive products while others generated mostly pyroclastics. Flood lavas were emplaced in both turbulent and gentle eruptions, producing roofed channels and inflation features. However, many areas on Mars are too heavily mantled to allow meter‐scale volcanic features to be discerned. In particular, the major volcanic edifices are extensively mantled, though it is possible that some of the mantle is pyroclastic material rather than atmospheric dust. Support imaging by the Context Imager (CTX) and topographic information derived from stereo imaging are both invaluable in interpreting the HiRISE data.
Stationary mesoscale jet‐like features in the ocean
Authors: Maximenko Nikolai A. , Melnichenko Oleg V. , Niiler Pearn P. , Sasaki Hideharu
Published: April 2008

XBT and float data of the World Ocean Database 2005 are used to validate new stationary jet‐like features (striations) recently found in the high‐resolution mean dynamic ocean topography (MDOT). Two study areas were selected in the eastern parts of the North and South Pacific subtropical gyres free of any strong currents. Appropriate horizontal high‐pass filtering applied to the ensemble‐mean temperature at 100 m depth revealed the striation signal coherent with MDOT. The features are also distinct in the data of depth of 12°C isotherm lying close to the thermocline. The striations are oriented nearly zonally and coherent vertically at least through 700 m depth. Their wavelength is approximately 400 km, and the azimuth of wavevector is −13° (9°) in the northern (southern) domains. Correspondence between the striations in observations and OFES (OGCM for the Earth Simulator) model as well as the nature of the striations are discussed.
Observational assessment of the potential of satellite‐based water vapor and thermal IR brightness temperatures in detecting semitransparent cirrus
Authors: Rajeev K. , Parameswaran K. , Meenu S. , Sunilkumar S. V. , Thampi Bijoy V. , Raju C. Suresh , Murthy B. V. Krishna , Jagannath K. S. , Mehta Sanjay K. , Rao D. Narayana , Rao Kusuma G.
Published: April 2008

Satellite observations of brightness temperature in the atmospheric window and water vapor bands are widely used for studying the regional/global distribution of semi‐transparent cirrus (STC). The present study provides the first quantitative assessment of the lower limit of cloud optical depth (COD) of STC that can be detected using this method and the conditions under which these observations are reliable, by comparing the STC information derived from the Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) onboard the Indian geostationary satellite KALPANA‐1 over the tropical station Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E) with cirrus COD obtained from collocated Lidar observations for 12 nights during different seasons under contrasting cloud conditions. Satellite‐derived STC amount is found to be highly reliable when COD > 0.02 and is an underestimate when it decreases below 0.02, especially when they appear as broken clusters. However, in most of the cases, satellite could detect very thin STC with COD < 0.02 when they are widespread.
Aquifer structure identification using stochastic inversion
Authors: Harp Dylan R. , Dai Zhenxue , Wolfsberg Andrew V. , Vrugt Jasper A. , Robinson Bruce A. , Vesselinov Velimir V.
Published: April 2008

This study presents a stochastic inverse method for aquifer structure identification using sparse geophysical and hydraulic response data. The method is based on updating structure parameters from a transition probability model to iteratively modify the aquifer structure and parameter zonation. The method is extended to the adaptive parameterization of facies hydraulic parameters by including these parameters as optimization variables. The stochastic nature of the statistical structure parameters leads to nonconvex objective functions. A multi‐method genetically adaptive evolutionary approach (AMALGAM‐SO) was selected to perform the inversion given its search capabilities. Results are obtained as a probabilistic assessment of facies distribution based on indicator cokriging simulation of the optimized structural parameters. The method is illustrated by estimating the structure and facies hydraulic parameters of a synthetic example with a transient hydraulic response.
A Satisfaction Enhancement Intervention for Long‐Term Weight Loss
Authors: Jeffery Robert W. , Linde Jennifer A. , Finch Emily A. , Rothman Alexander J. , King Christie M.
Published: April 2008

Objective: To compare the effects of two satisfaction enhancement interventions for weight control on behavioral and weight changes among individuals in a 15‐month weight loss program. The primary hypothesis was that long‐term weight loss would be improved by an intervention that enhances perceived satisfaction with achieved outcomes.

Research Methods and Procedures: Men and women (331) were randomized to weight control programs comprised of diet and exercise counseling and a cognitive intervention that emphasized either comparing experienced outcomes with expectation of ideal outcomes or comparing experienced outcomes with pretreatment status. The latter was expected to cause greater satisfaction with weight loss progress.

Results: The intervention manipulation was not successful in influencing cognitions, satisfaction, or weight change.

Discussion: The potential for intervening on satisfaction per se for the purpose of achieving greater or more sustained weight loss remains to be demonstrated.
Ethnic and Sex Variations in Overweight Self‐perception: Relationship to Sedentariness
Authors: Yancey Antronette K. , Simon Paul A. , McCarthy William J. , Lightstone Amy S. , Fielding Jonathan E.
Published: April 2008

Objective: With increasing frequency, health promotion messages advocating physical activity are claiming weight loss as a benefit. However, messages promoting physical activity as a weight loss strategy may have limited effectiveness and cross‐cultural relevance. We recently found self‐perceived overweight to be a more robust correlate of sedentary behavior than BMI in Los Angeles County adults. In this study, we examined ethnic and sex differences in overweight self‐perception and their association with sedentariness in this sample.

Research Methods and Procedures: We conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses of cross‐sectional survey data from a representative sample of Los Angeles County adults.

Results: Women were more likely to perceive themselves to be overweight than men overall (73.2% of overweight/non‐obese and 24.1% of average weight women vs. 44.5% of overweight/non‐obese and 5.6% of average weight men) and within each ethnic group. African‐Americans were least likely (41.3% of overweight/non‐obese African‐Americans self‐identified as overweight) and whites were most likely to consider themselves overweight (60.6% of overweight/non‐obese whites self‐identified as overweight). Overweight (vs. average weight) self‐perception was correlated with sedentariness among average weight adults (45.3% vs. 33.0%, p < 0.001), overweight adults (43.4% vs. 33.6%, p < 0.001), men (average and overweight: 38.4% vs. 27.8%, p < 0.001), overweight whites (41.9% vs. 29.7%, p = 0.0012), and African‐Americans and Latinos (41.6% vs. 33.9%, p = 0.005).

Discussion: These data suggest that our society's emphasis on weight loss rather than lifestyle change may inadvertently discourage physical activity adoption/maintenance among non‐obese individuals. However, further research is needed, particularly from prospective cohort and intervention studies, to elucidate the relationship between overweight self‐perception and healthy lifestyle change.
Low Dairy Intake in Early Childhood Predicts Excess Body Fat Gain
Authors: Moore Lynn L. , Bradlee M. Loring , Gao Di , Singer Martha R.
Published: April 2008

Objective: To estimate the effect of dairy intake in early childhood on the acquisition of body fat throughout childhood.

Research Methods and Procedures: Ninety‐nine of the original 106 families enrolled in the Framingham Children's Study with a child age to 6 years at baseline were followed into adolescence through yearly clinic visits and periodic data collection throughout each year. Dairy intake for these analyses was derived from a mean of 15 days of diet records per subject collected before age 6. A trained examiner took two measurements each year of height, weight, and triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, and abdominal skinfolds using a standardized protocol. Yearly change in body fat was estimated as the slope of these anthropometry measures from ages 5 to 13 years. Early adolescent body fat was estimated as the mean of all available measurements from 10 to 13 years of age.

Results: Children in the lowest sex‐specific tertile of dairy intake during preschool (i.e., <1.25 servings per day for girls and <1.70 servings per day for boys) had significantly greater gains in body fat during childhood. These children with low dairy intakes gained more than 3 additional mm of subcutaneous fat per year in the sum of four skinfold measures. By the time of early adolescence, those in the lowest tertile of dairy intake had a BMI that was approximately two units higher and an extra 25 mm of subcutaneous fat.

Discussion: Suboptimal dairy intakes during preschool in this cohort were associated with greater gains in body fat throughout childhood.
Physical Activity Correlates in Adolescent Girls Who Differ by Weight Status
Authors: Ward Dianne S. , Dowda Marsha , Trost Stewart G. , Felton Gwen M. , Dishman Rod K. , Pate Russell R.
Published: April 2008

Objective: This study compared correlates of physical activity (PA) among African‐American and white girls of different weight groups to guide future interventions.

Research Methods and Procedures: Participants were 1015 girls (mean age, 14.6 years; 45% African‐American) from 12 high schools in South Carolina who served as control subjects for a school‐based intervention. Post‐intervention measures obtained at the end of ninth grade were used. PA was measured using the Three‐Day PA Recall, and a questionnaire measured social‐cognitive and environmental variables thought to mediate PA. Height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated. Girls were stratified by race and categorized into three groups, based on BMI percentiles for girls from CDC growth charts: normal (BMI < 85th percentile), at risk (BMI, 85th to 94th percentile), and overweight (BMI ≥ 95th percentile). Girls were further divided into active and low‐active groups, based on a vigorous PA standard (average of one or more 30‐minute blocks per day per 3‐day period). Mixed‐model ANOVA was used to compare factors among groups, treating school as a random effect

Results: None of the social‐cognitive or environmental variables differed by weight status for African‐American or white girls. Perceived behavioral control and sports team participation were significantly higher in girls who were more active, regardless of weight or race group. In general, social‐cognitive variables seem to be more related to activity in white girls, whereas environmental factors seem more related to activity in African‐American girls.

Discussion: PA interventions should be tailored to the unique needs of girls based on PA levels and race, rather than on weight status alone.
Understanding Reporting Bias in the Dietary Recall Data of 11‐Year‐Old Girls
Authors: Ventura Alison K. , Loken Eric , Mitchell Diane C. , Smiciklas‐Wright Helen , Birch Leann L.
Published: April 2008

Objective: This study describes patterns of bias in self‐reported dietary recall data of girls by examining differences among girls classified as under‐reporters, plausible reporters, and over‐reporters on weight, dietary patterns, and psychosocial characteristics.

Research Methods and Procedures: Participants included 176 girls at age 11 and their parents. Girls’ weight and height were measured. Three 24‐hour dietary recalls and responses to psychosocial measures were collected. Plausibility cut‐offs for reported energy intake as a percentage of predicted energy requirements were used to divide the sample into under‐reporters, plausible reporters, and over‐reporters. Differences among these three groups on dietary and psychosocial variables were assessed to examine possible sources of bias in reporting.

Results: Using a ±1 standard deviation cut‐off for energy intake plausibility, 50% of the sample was categorized as plausible reporters, 34% as under‐reporters, and 16% as over‐reporters. Weight status of under‐reporters was significantly higher than that of plausible reporters and over‐reporters. With respect to reported dietary intake, under‐reporters were no different from plausible reporters on intakes of foods with higher nutrient densities and lower energy densities and were significantly lower than plausible reporters on intakes of foods with lower nutrient densities and higher energy densities. Over‐reporters reported significantly higher intakes of all food groups and the majority of subgroups, relative to plausible reporters. Under‐reporters had significantly higher levels of weight concern and dietary restraint than both plausible reporters and over‐reporters.

Discussion: Techniques to categorize plausible and implausible reporters can and should be used to provide an improved understanding of the nature of error in children's dietary intake data and account for this error in analysis and interpretation.
Prevalence of Obesity in Elementary Schoolchildren Living in Northeast Attica, Greece
Authors: Papadimitriou Anastasios , Kounadi Dionysia , Konstantinidou Maria , Xepapadaki Paraskevi , Nicolaidou Polyxeni
Published: April 2008

Objective: To assess the prevalence of obesity and obesity trend in schoolchildren living in Northeast Attica, Greece.

Research Methods and Procedures: Mean (standard deviation) and median weight and BMI were calculated in 4131 (2054 boys and 2077 girls) 6‐ to 11‐year‐old Greek schoolchildren living in Northeast Attica between November 2003 and April 2004. Two hundred thirty‐six (95 boys, 141 girls) immigrant children also participated in the study. The secular trend for obesity was determined comparing our data with those of a similar study performed in 1994.

Results: Of boys, 27.8% were overweight, and 12.3% were obese. For girls, the corresponding values were 26.5% for overweight and 9.9% for obesity. There was an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the last 10 years in both sexes. For boys, overweight increased by 4.2% and obesity by 2.9%, whereas, for girls, overweight increased by 3.8% and obesity by 1.6%. Overweight and obesity were less prevalent in the immigrant children compared with their Greek peers. For immigrant boys, overweight was 15.9% and obesity was 7.9%, and for immigrant girls, overweight was 15.2% and obesity was 8.7%.

Discussion: Greek schoolchildren living in Northeast Attica present a high prevalence of overweight and obesity and a positive secular change in the prevalence of obesity.
Do Energy Density and Dietary Fiber Influence Subsequent 5‐Year Weight Changes in Adult Men and Women?
Authors: Iqbal Sofia I. , Helge Jørn W. , Heitmann Berit L.
Published: April 2008

Objective: We examined whether associations between dietary components and, in particular, energy density (ED) predicted subsequent 5‐year weight changes.

Research Methods and Procedures: The present longitudinal population study was part of the Danish World Health Organization Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA) and the 1936 cohort dietary studies. Effects of components were studied in relation to subsequent 5‐year weight changes in 862 men and 900 women, 30 to 60 years old. Linear multiple regression analyses were conducted.

Results: Mean 5‐year changes in body weight (BW) were 1.2 ± 3.9 and 1.3 ± 4.6 kg for men and women, respectively. In general, neither ED nor any of the dietary components was associated with subsequent change in BW. In women, ED was positively associated with weight gain among the obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2) and inversely associated with weight gain in normal‐weight women (BMI < 25 kg/m2) (p = 0.01). However, in men there was a non‐ significant inverse trend between ED and weight gain in the obese and no significant interaction.

Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study to examine the associations between ED and subsequent changes in BW, and despite a general belief that ED is a major determinant of obesity, the present study did not generally lend support for an association. However, among certain subgroups, an energy‐dense diet may be a risk factor for weight development.
Cold Exposure Suppresses Serum Adiponectin Levels through Sympathetic Nerve Activation in Mice
Authors: Imai Junta , Katagiri Hideki , Yamada Tetsuya , Ishigaki Yasushi , Ogihara Takehide , Uno Kenji , Hasegawa Yutaka , Gao Junhong , Ishihara Hisamitsu , Sasano Hironobu , Oka Yoshitomo
Published: April 2008

Objective: Several lines of evidence suggest important roles for adiponectin in glucose and lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms regulating serum adiponectin levels and adiponectin production are still not completely understood. Our aim was to determine whether adiponectin synthesis is physiologically regulated by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).

Research Methods and Procedures: Mice were exposed to cold (4 °C) for 12 hours and for 24 hours with or without inhibition of noradrenaline synthesis or pan‐β adrenergic function, followed by measurement of serum adiponectin concentrations and levels of adiponectin and uncoupling protein (UCP) 1 expressions in various white adipose tissues (WATs).

Results: Cold exposure significantly reduced serum adiponectin concentrations without changing body weights or WAT sizes in either subcutaneous or intra‐abdominal fat tissues. The serum adiponectin reduction was associated with a decrease in adiponectin mRNA expression in subcutaneous, epididymal, and mesenteric fat tissues. In these adipose tissues, UCP1 expression was markedly enhanced, suggesting SNS activation in these tissues. Administration of α‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine or a combination of SR59230A and propranolol reversed the cold‐exposure‐induced decreases in serum adiponectin concentrations and adiponectin mRNA expression in these tissues. In contrast, in retroperitoneal fat, the effects of cold exposure on adiponectin and UCP1 expressions were strikingly weak but were not reversed by SNS inhibitors.

Discussion: SNS physiologically regulates serum adiponectin levels and adiponectin synthesis in WATs in vivo, although responsiveness to SNS stimulation differs markedly among WATs. Sympathetic activation might be involved in development of the metabolic syndrome by modulation of serum adiponectin concentrations.