bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When cancerophobia and denial lead to death
Authors: Reich Michel , Gaudron Cecile , Penel Nicolas
Published: June 2009

Objective:

The belief that cancer inevitably leads to a dreadful and painful death is widespread. This may contribute to society's cancerophobia and denial with subsequent frequent delays in seeking medical attention and treatment for suspected cancer. Cancerophobia is an active behavior of fear of cancer that can lead to repeated medical examination without giving full reassurance to the patient. Denial is a mechanism of defense that usually helps the patient to cope with painful, threatening, overwhelming, or awkward thoughts. When it turns out to be ineffective and pathological, it can cause either delay or avoidance in seeking treatment for symptoms relevant for a true malignancy and will lead inexorably to death if not cured.

Method:

To illustrate this, we report the case of a 62-year-old woman who died of massive concealed ovarian cancer, straightaway at a palliative stage, who always had a persistent denial of her medical condition and a past history of cancerophobia.

Results:

With this case report, we would like to point out that supportive or palliative care staff should pay attention to this lethal behavior.

Significance of results:

Some brief recommendations to deal with this specific problematic are outlined.
On the generation and topology of flux transfer events
Authors: Dorelli J. C. , Bhattacharjee A.
Published: June 2009

We use resistive magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations to investigate the generation and topology of flux transfer events (FTEs) at Earth's dayside magnetopause under generic southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions. We focus on three questions: (1) Can FTEs form spontaneously under steady solar wind conditions? (2) What is the role of magnetic reconnection in the generation of FTEs? (3) What effect do FTEs have on the magnetopause magnetic field topology? We find that in the simulations, FTEs form spontaneously under steady solar wind conditions. In contrast to the multiple X line model of Raeder (2006), dipole tilt is not required to produce FTEs in resistive MHD simulations. Further, FTEs are generated by flow vortices which begin to grow well before magnetic reconnection changes the magnetopause magnetic field topology. FTEs form under steady southward IMF conditions but not under steady northward IMF conditions, suggesting that the magnetopause becomes unstable when the IMF turns southward. In our simulations, this instability appears to be triggered by a movement of the flow stagnation point away from the magnetic separator, which modifies the subsolar stagnation point flow, thereby rendering it unstable. Finally, examination of the internal magnetic structure of the simulated FTEs reveals a complex topology resulting from multiple separator bifurcations driven by plasma flows within the FTEs.
Multiyear observations of tidal oscillations in OH M(3,1) rotational temperatures at South Pole, Antarctica
Authors: Azeem S. M. I. , Sivjee G. G.
Published: June 2009

Tidal amplitudes and phases deduced from Austral winter observations of OH Meinel (3,1) rotational temperatures at South Pole, Antarctica over the period 1994–2007 are presented here. Dominant periodicities in temperature data are seen at 24, 12, and 8 h. The amplitude of these wave oscillations shows significant variability during the months analyzed herein (April through September). In contrast to 12‐ and 8‐h waves, the 24‐h wave is stronger, more persistent, and coherent at South Pole. The observed amplitude variability in 24‐, 12‐, and 8‐h waves during the majority of the years analyzed is shown to be correlated. Phase variations of 24‐ and 8‐h waves with longitudes indicate that these waves are standing zonal wave number 0 waves.
Solar primary and secondary ionization at Saturn
Authors: Galand Marina , Moore Luke , Charnay Benjamin , Mueller‐Wodarg Ingo , Mendillo Michael
Published: June 2009

Solar EUV and soft X‐ray photons are a prime source of energy upon Saturn's upper atmosphere. In particular, they represent a significant source of ionization yielding the creation of an ionosphere, a region probed by the Cassini Radio Science Subsystem (RSS) experiment. During the past decade the only ionization process modeled at Saturn under solar illumination has been photoionization. We present the first detailed calculation of the ionization rate by suprathermal electrons (photoelectrons and their secondaries), applied to Saturn using realistic solar flux and neutral atmospheric input. The energy degradation model, describing the absorption of solar photons and the transport of suprathermal electrons, is self‐consistently coupled with an ionospheric model providing the electron and ion densities and temperatures. The coupled model is applied to equinox conditions at 30°N latitude. We assess and compare the photoionization and electron‐impact ionization rates. We discuss their sensitivity with solar flux models as well as solar activity. We find that the secondary production rate affects not only the bottom side of the ionosphere, as previously predicted, but also the main ionospheric peak. The electron density is increased by up to 30% at the peak with a decrease in the peak altitude by several hundreds of kilometers around local noon. Above the homopause, the largest increase in electron density is found after sunrise below the ionospheric peak. Finally, we compare the energy degradation of photoelectrons with auroral electrons and discuss the relevance of this study to the interpretation of observations by the Cassini RSS and Cassini Plasma Science/Electron Spectrometer instruments.
Near‐field tsunami forecasting from cabled ocean bottom pressure data
Authors: Tsushima Hiroaki , Hino Ryota , Fujimoto Hiromi , Tanioka Yuichiro , Imamura Fumihiko
Published: June 2009

We propose a method for near‐field tsunami forecasting from data acquired by cabled offshore ocean bottom tsunami meters (OBTMs) in real time. We first invert tsunami waveforms recorded at OBTMs to estimate the spatial distribution of initial sea‐surface displacements in the tsunami source region without making any assumptions about fault geometry and earthquake magnitude. Then, we synthesize the coastal tsunami waveforms from the estimated sea‐surface displacement distribution. To improve the reliability of the tsunami forecasting, we use updated OBTM data to repeat the forecast calculation at 1‐min intervals. We tested our method by simulating the 1896 Sanriku tsunami earthquake, which caused a devastating tsunami with maximum runup height of 38 m along the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan. Instead of real OBTM records, proxies were used. The simulation demonstrated that our method provided accurate estimations of coastal arrival times and amplitudes of the first peak of the tsunami more than 20 min before the maximum amplitude wave reached the coastal site nearest to the source. We also applied the method to real data of a small tsunami that was caused by a local earthquake and successfully forecasted the tsunami at coastal tide stations. We found that accuracy of our estimated coastal tsunami amplitudes can be affected by the spatial relationship between the tsunami source and the offshore observation stations. Our numerical simulation showed that even more accurate tsunami amplitude forecasts would be achieved by deployment of additional offshore stations separated by a distance comparable to the trench‐parallel length of the tsunami source.
Crustal structure of Deception Island volcano from P wave seismic tomography: Tectonic and volcanic implications
Authors: Zandomeneghi Daria , Barclay Andrew , Almendros Javier , Ibañez Godoy Jesús M. , Wilcock William S. D. , Ben‐Zvi Tami
Published: June 2009

Deception Island (62°59′S, 60°41′W) is an active volcano located in the Bransfield Strait between the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. The island is composed of rocks that date from <0.75 Ma to historical eruptions (1842, 1967, 1969, and 1970), and nowadays most of its activity is represented by vigorous hydrothermal circulation, slight resurgence of the inner bay floor, and intense seismicity, with frequent volcano‐tectonic and long‐period events. In January 2005 an extensive seismic survey took place in and around the island to collect high‐quality data for a high‐resolution P wave velocity tomography study. A total of 95 land and 14 ocean bottom seismometers were deployed, and more than 6600 air gun shots were fired. As a result of this experiment, more than 70,000 travel time data were used to obtain the velocity model, which resolves strong P wave velocity contrasts down to 5 km depth. The joint interpretation of the Vp distribution together with the results of geological, geochemical, and other geophysical (magnetic and gravimetric) measurements allows us to map and interpret several volcanic features of the island and surroundings. The most striking feature is the low P wave velocity beneath the caldera floor which represents the seismic image of an extensive region of magma beneath a sediment‐filled basin. Another low‐velocity zone to the east of Deception Island corresponds to seafloor sedimentary deposits, while high velocities to the northwest are interpreted as the crystalline basement of the South Shetland Islands platform. In general, in the tomographic image we observe NE‐SW and NW‐SE distributions of velocity contrasts that are compatible with the regional tectonic directions and suggest that the volcanic evolution of Deception Island is strongly conditioned by the Bransfield Basin geodynamics.
Constraints on continued episodic inflation at Long Valley Caldera, based on seismic and geodetic observations
Authors: Feng Lujia , Newman Andrew V.
Published: June 2009

Long Valley Caldera, a large and potentially explosive silicic system, has experienced highly anomalous continued inflation since late 1970s. We characterize an episode of rapid episodic uplift occurring between 2002 and 2003 following similar episodes of 1979–1980, 1983, 1989–1990, and 1997–1998. This most recent episode was the first to be observed by a dense array of 13 continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) stations. Similar to previously observed episodes of deformation, uplift is quasi‐radially symmetric and is mostly explained by a compact pressure source located ∼3 km west of the resurgent dome. The maximum uplift during the 2002–2003 episode is ∼35 ± 8 mm, about 1/3 the magnitude but with a similar time‐dependent behavior as the 1997–1998 episode. The horizontal source location is well constrained at −118.930°, 37.678°, for a small spherical source, and indistinguishable from the location of a vertically dipping prolate spheroidal source. A trade‐off between depth and volume change is observed for both spherical and prolate models, with depth between 7.5 and 13.5 km and a volume change of 0.01–0.03 km3 at 95% confidence. For prolate spheroidal models, depth and volume change are additionally affected by the source axis ratio (b/a), which is greater than 0.55. Though the background seismicity remained low during the 2002–2003 episode, we identified a significant spike in activity during the maximum rate of uplift, similar to observations in both the much larger episodes in 1989–1990, and 1997–1998. More interestingly, we additionally find that all three episodes begin immediately after a short period of seismic quiescence, with background seismicity falling to levels below background levels following the prior uplift event. With the dense GPS coverage, we also identify increased opening of the Mono‐Inyo volcanic chain after the 2002–2003 episode suggesting potential interaction of magmatic fluids between the two systems.
Wind and topography influence on an upwelling system at the eastern Hainan coast
Authors: Su Jian , Pohlmann Thomas
Published: June 2009

During the summer monsoon, an upwelling dominates east of Hainan Island, which can be observed by means of field studies and satellite sea surface temperature images. The centers of cold water at the surface always show a strong patchiness. A 3‐D high‐resolution model is applied to study the impact of the topography on the wind‐driven upwelling system. The experiments show that the upwelling‐favoring wind is the main driving force, and we concluded that the formation of the centers of cold water at the surface significantly depends on the strength of southwesterly and southerly winds. Moreover, the internal waves are generated at the shelf break representing the most prominent interaction between inner shelf and open ocean. The alongshore topographic variations play an important role in the distribution of the upwelling centers. This combined effect of wind and topography leads to the following processes: (1) When the southwesterly or southerly wind is strong enough, topographic variations cause upwelling centers at the downstream side of topographic high and a downwelling center at the upstream side which in turn lead to density variations. (2) These density variations cause additional pressure gradients which advect the upwelling centers toward the northeast. (3) A longer period of upwelling favorable winds support the advection processes which cause an enlargement of the cold water centers. All these processes together can explain the observed uneven distribution of upwelling centers.
Connectivity among straits of the northwest Pacific marginal seas
Authors: Cho Yang‐Ki , Seo Gwang‐Ho , Choi Byoung‐Ju , Kim Sangil , Kim Young‐Gyu , Youn Yong‐Hoon , Dever Edward P.
Published: June 2009

The connectivity among straits of the northwest Pacific marginal seas is investigated with a primitive‐equation ocean circulation model simulated for 10 years from 1994 to 2003. Over the simulation interval the temporal and spatial means and variations of the model sea surface temperature are comparable to those of the satellite sea surface temperature. The model transport through the straits shows good agreement with the available observations and a high seasonality in the Taiwan Strait, the Korea Strait, and the Soya Strait but relatively low seasonality in the Tsugaru Strait. The Kuroshio and Taiwan Warm Current (TWC) are two sources of water flowing through the Korea Strait. The volume transport in the Korea Strait is dominated by the Kuroshio in winter (83%) and by the TWC in summer (66%). Relative to the transport through the Korea Strait, the transport percentages of the Tsugaru Strait connecting to the northwest Pacific Ocean are 79% in winter and 65% in summer. The seasonality of the Korea Strait transport is positively correlated with the cross‐strait wind stress. The drifter experiments show that it takes about 4 months for most of the drifters deployed in the Taiwan Strait to enter the Korea Strait and more than 2 months to travel from the Korea Strait to the Tsugaru and Soya straits.
Retrieval of Mars surface physical properties from OMEGA hyperspectral images using regularized sliced inverse regression
Authors: Bernard‐Michel C. , Douté S. , Fauvel M. , Gardes L. , Girard S.
Published: June 2009

In this paper, a method based on modeling and statistics is proposed to evaluate the physical properties of surface icy materials on Mars from hyperspectral images collected by the OMEGA instrument aboard the Mars Express spacecraft. The approach is based on the estimation of the functional relationship F between observed spectra and relevant physical parameters such as compound abundances and granularity. To this end, a database of synthetic spectra is generated by a radiative transfer model simulating the reflection of solar light by a granular mixture of H2O ice, CO2 ice, and dust. The database constitutes a training set used to estimate F. The high dimension of spectra is reduced by Gaussian regularized sliced inverse regression (GRSIR) to overcome the “curse of dimensionality” and, consequently, the sensitivity of the inversion to noise (ill‐conditioned problems). Compared with other approaches, such as the k‐NN, the partial least squares, and the support vector machines (SVM), GRSIR has the advantage of being very fast, interpretable, and accurate. For instance, on simulated test data, the same level of accuracy is obtained by GRSIR and SVM for the estimation of the proportion of dust with a normalized root‐mean‐square error of 13%, but GRSIR performs 100 times faster. On real data, parameter maps generated by GRSIR from a sequence of three OMEGA observations of the bright permanent polar cap (BPPC) are much smoother, detailed, and coherent than with other competing methods. They indicate that coarse‐grained dry ice completely dominates (≈99.55–99.95 wt%) the material forming the top few centimeters of the BPPC with dust and water only present as traces (from 300 to 1000 ppm). The maps show clear regional variations of water and dust contamination as well as CO2 ice state of densification (mean free path around 5 cm on the average, with variations of ±50%) that must be related to meteorological and microphysical phenomena.
Effects of rapid sedimentation on developing the Nyegga pockmark field: Constraints from hydrological modeling and 3‐D seismic data, offshore mid‐Norway
Authors: Hustoft Steinar , Dugan Brandon , Mienert Jürgen
Published: June 2009

Three‐dimensional (3‐D) seismic data in the Nyegga region expose hundreds of seafloor pockmarks and fluid escape chimneys in close proximity to the northern sidewall of the Storegga Slide, on the formerly glaciated Norwegian margin. As the up to 350 m wide individual craters of the Nyegga pockmark field postdate the Late Glacial Maximum (∼25 calendar (cal) ka B.P.) and because modern fluid flux is characterized as microseepage at most, it appears that the pockmarks developed nearly simultaneously with some specific event. External types of forcing such as earthquake loading, the Storegga Slide (8.1 cal ka B.P.), or rapid sediment loading represent potential trigger mechanisms for developing hundreds of pockmarks within a millennial time window. We integrate the 3‐D seismic observations with a two‐dimensional (2‐D) sedimentation–fluid flow model to quantify the effects of sediment loading and erosion on overpressure generation and fluid expulsion. The models simulate the temporal evolution of compaction‐driven overpressure and fluid expulsion based on sedimentation rates estimated from seismic data and hydrologic and sediment properties obtained from laboratory experiments and petrophysical data. The 2‐D model predicts rapid overpressure generation in response to high sedimentation rates during the last (Weichselian) deglaciation period (25–18 cal ka B.P.). The high pressures significantly increase fluid expulsion, which peaks between 19 and 16 cal ka B.P. The modeled high‐flux period and the following declining flux period exhibit an excellent correlation with existing age dates of methane‐derived authigenic carbonate retrieved from Nyegga pockmarks. Accordingly, rapid sediment loading provides a mechanism to drive extensive cold seep formation. Our model suggests that the Nyegga pockmark field developed between 19 and 16 cal ka B.P. and therefore predates the giant Storegga Slide event.
Interactions between a transform fault and arc volcanism in the Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea
Authors: Llanes P. , Silver E. , Day S. , Hoffman G.
Published: June 2009

We present a new interpretation of the geological evolution of the western branch of the Bismarck Sea Seismic Lineation (BSSL) region, offshore the northwestern coast of Papua New Guinea, from mapping and interpretation of bathymetry and backscatter data acquired aboard R/V Kilo Moana in 2004. At present, the Schouten Islands parallel the Papua New Guinea coast, but this distribution results from the left‐lateral displacement of some of these volcanic islands by the Bismarck Sea Seismic Lineation. The trend of the islands and seamounts was initially aligned N‐S and then displaced by the BSSL. Wei Island lies on a large submarine edifice that may have formed as part of a leaky transform. Subsequent to forming, Wei Island was bisected, and its pieces were displaced 45 km. Using this distance together with the strike‐slip rate for the Bismarck Sea Seismic Lineation (predicted from the North Bismarck Plate–South Bismarck Plate pole), the division occurred approximately 385,000 years ago.
Understanding how volume affects the mobility of dry debris flows
Authors: Staron L. , Lajeunesse E.
Published: June 2009

The prediction of the runout length L of large dry debris flows has long been the subject of a considerable research effort, primarily due to the obvious concern caused by their destructive power. One seemingly well established feature is the increase of the mobility ℳ of a rock avalanche, defined as the ratio of the runout distance to the fall height, with its volume V. The physical nature of this lubrication mechanism remains however controversial. In this paper, we analyse field data and discrete numerical simulations of granular flows and demonstrate the geometrical origin of the apparent enhancement of the mobility with the volume. We evidence the intertwined role of volume and topography and show the existence of two contributions in the runout, defining two flow regimes: one dominated by sliding, in which the runout is independent of V, and another dominated by spreading, in which the runout is strongly dependent on V. In the light of these results, the search of a volume dependent lubrication mechanism appears to be an ill‐posed problem.
Weddell Sea anomalies: Excitation, propagation, and possible consequences
Authors: Hellmer H. H. , Kauker F. , Timmermann R.
Published: June 2009

Antarctic marginal seas are susceptible to significant decadal variability as revealed by the analysis of a 200‐year integration of a regional ice‐ocean model forced with the atmospheric output of the IPCC climate model ECHAM5‐MPIOM. The strongest signal occurs on the southern and western Weddell Sea continental shelf where changes in bottom salinity are initiated by a variable sea ice cover and modification of surface waters near the Greenwich meridian. Related zonal shifts of the western rim current guide deep waters with different temperature out of the Weddell Sea. With a deep boundary current the temperature signal propagates westward through southern Drake Passage and along the upper continental rise in the southeast Pacific thereby influencing the hydrographic conditions on the continental shelf of Bellingshausen, Amundsen, and Ross Seas.
Poleward arcs of the auroral oval during substorms and the inner edge of the plasma sheet
Authors: Haerendel Gerhard
Published: June 2009

An analytical model for the connection between the near‐Earth edge of the plasma sheet at substorm onset and the auroral arcs at the poleward edge of the auroral oval is presented. The connection is established through the existence of a Boström type I current system. Its generator is assumed to be constituted by a narrow high‐beta plasma layer located at the interface between the near‐Earth plasma sheet and the outer edge of the near‐dipolar field of the magnetosphere. The energy balance between the downward Poynting flux and the energy conversion in the auroral acceleration region and ionosphere provides a relation for the electric fields as a function of the upward field‐aligned current. Only the upward current region is being considered in this work. An interesting effect, incorporated in the energy balance, is the feedback of the auroral electrojet on the magnetospheric plasma by dragging the latter eastward from below under the action of a Hall generator. Thereby a relation arises between the westward electric field, tangential to the arc, and the equatorward polarization field. Quantitative solution of the energy equation is achieved by using the empirical relations between auroral energy flux and electron energy and the integrated Hall and Pedersen conductivities. Accommodation of the downward energy flux requires the existence of a minimum arc length. The resulting quantities are consistent with typical auroral data sets. Relating the downward energy flux to the parameters of the generator reveals a strong dependence of polarization electric field, overall energy dissipation, and total current strength on the plasma beta of the generator. The dumping of excess energy from the high‐beta plasma layer into the auroral arc(s) allows the stretched tail field lines to transform into dipolar field lines. It opens, so‐to‐speak, the gate into the outer magnetosphere.
Specific rhizosphere bacterial and fungal groups respond differently to elevated atmospheric CO2
Authors: Drigo Barbara , van Veen Johannes A , Kowalchuk George A
Published: June 2009

Soil community responses to increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations are expected to occur mostly through interactions with changing vegetation patterns and plant physiology. To gain insight into the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the composition and functioning of microbial communities in the rhizosphere, Carex arenaria (a non-mycorrhizal plant species) and Festuca rubra (a mycorrhizal plant species) were grown under defined atmospheric conditions with either ambient (350 p.p.m.) or elevated (700 p.p.m.) CO2 concentrations. PCR-DGGE (PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) and quantitative-PCR were carried out to analyze, respectively, the structure and abundance of the communities of actinomycetes, Fusarium spp., Trichoderma spp., Pseudomonas spp., Burkholderia spp. and Bacillus spp. Responses of specific functional groups, such as phloroglucinol, phenazine and pyrrolnitrin producers, were also examined by quantitative–PCR, and HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) was employed to assess changes in exuded sugars in the rhizosphere. Multivariate analysis of group-specific community profiles showed disparate responses to elevated CO2 for the different bacterial and fungal groups examined, and these responses were dependent on plant type and soil nutrient availability. Within the bacterial community, the genera Burkholderia and Pseudomonas, typically known as successful rhizosphere colonizers, were significantly influenced by elevated CO2, whereas the genus Bacillus and actinomycetes, typically more dominant in bulk soil, were not. Total sugar concentrations in the rhizosphere also increased in both plants in response to elevated CO2. The abundances of phloroglucinol-, phenazine- and pyrrolnitrin-producing bacterial communities were also influenced by elevated CO2, as was the abundance of the fungal genera Fusarium and Trichoderma.
Range-based techniques for discovering optimality and analyzing scaling relationships in neuromechanical systems
Authors: Alicea Bradly
Published: June 2009

In this paper, a method for decoupling the neuromuscular function of a set of limbs from the role morphology plays in regulating the performance of an activity is introduced. This method is based on two previous methods: the rescaled range analysis specific to time series data, and the use of scaling laws. A review of the literature suggests that limb geometry can either facilitate or constrain performance as measured experimentally. Whether limb geometry is facilitatory or acts as a constraint depends on the size differential between arm morphology and the underlying muscle. "Changes in size and shape" are theoretically extrapolations of morphological geometry to other members of a population or species, to other species, or to technological manipulations of an individual via prosthetic devices. Three datasets are analyzed using the range-based method and a Monte-Carlo simulation, and are used to test the various ways of executing this analysis. It was found that when performance is kept stable but limb size and shape is scaled by a factor of .25, the greatest gain in performance results. It was also found that introducing force-based perturbations results in 'shifts' in the body geometry/performance relationship. While results such as this could be interpreted as a statistical artifact, the non-linear rise within a measurement class and linear decrease between measurement classes suggests an effect of scale in the optimality of this relationship. Overall, range-based techniques allow for the simulation and modeling of myriad changes in phenotype that result from biological and technological manipulation.
Maté Tea Inhibits In Vitro Pancreatic Lipase Activity and Has Hypolipidemic Effect on High‐fat Diet‐induced Obese Mice
Authors: Martins Fernanda , Noso Tatiana M. , Porto Viviane B. , Curiel Alline , Gambero Alessandra , Bastos Deborah H.M. , Ribeiro Marcelo L. , Carvalho Patrícia de O.
Published: June 2009

The inhibitory effects of maté tea (MT), a beverage produced with leaves from Ilex paraguariensis, in vitro lipase activity and on obesity in obese mice models were examined. For the in vitro experiment, porcine and human pancreatic lipase (PL) activities were determined by measuring the rate of release of oleic acid from hydrolysis of olive oil emulsified with taurocholate, phospholipids, gum arabic, or polyvinyl alcohol. For the in vivo experiments, animals were fed with a standard diet (SD, n = 10) or high‐fat diet (HFD, n = 30) for 16 weeks. After the first 8 weeks on the HFD, the animals were treated with 1 and 2 g/kg of body weight of MT. The time course of the body weight and obesity‐related biochemical parameters were evaluated. The results showed that MT inhibited both porcine and human PL (half‐maximal inhibitory concentration = 1.5 mg MT/ml) and induced a strong inhibition of the porcine lipase activity in the hydrolysis of substrate emulsified with taurocholate + phosphatidylcholine (PC) (83 ± 3.8%) or PC alone (62 ± 4.3%). MT suppressed the increases in body weight (P < 0.05) and decreased the serum triglycerides and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol concentrations at both doses (from 190.3 ± 5.7 to 135.0 ± 8.9 mg/dl, from 189.1 ± 7.3 to 129.3 ± 17.6 mg/dl; P < 0.05, respectively) after they had been increased by the HFD. The liver lipid content was also decreased by the diet containing MT (from 132.6 ± 3.9 to 95.6 ± 6.1 mg/g of tissue; P < 0.05). These results suggest that MT could be a potentially therapeutic alternative in the treatment of obesity caused by a HFD.
BMI and All‐cause Mortality Among Japanese Older Adults: Findings From the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study
Authors: Tamakoshi Akiko , Yatsuya Hiroshi , Lin Yingsong , Tamakoshi Koji , Kondo Takaaki , Suzuki Sadao , Yagyu Kiyoko , Kikuchi Shogo ,   JACC Study Group
Published: June 2009

The association between BMI and all‐cause mortality may vary with gender, age, and ethnic groups. However, few prospective cohort studies have reported the relationship in older Asian populations. We evaluated the association between BMI and all‐cause mortality in a cohort comprised 26,747 Japanese subjects aged 65–79 years at baseline (1988–1990). The study participants were followed for an average of 11.2 years. Proportional‐hazards regression models were used to estimate mortality hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals. Until 2003, 9,256 deaths occurred. The underweight group was associated with a statistically higher risk of all‐cause mortality compared with the mid‐normal‐range group (BMI: 20.0–22.9); resulting in a 1.78‐fold (95% confidence interval: 1.45–2.20) and 2.55‐fold (2.13–3.05) increase in mortality risk among severest thin men and women (BMI: <16.0), respectively. Even within the normal‐range group, the lower normal‐range group (BMI: 18.5–19.9) showed a statistically elevated risk. In contrast, being neither overweight (BMI: 25.0–29.9) nor obese (BMI: ≥30.0) elevated the risk among men; however among women, HR was slightly elevated in the obese group but not in the overweight group compared with the mid‐normal‐range group. Among Japanese older adults, a low BMI was associated with increased risk of all‐cause mortality, even among those with a lower normal BMI range. The wide range of BMI between 20.0 and 29.9 in both older men and women showed the lowest all‐cause mortality risk.
BMI and Mortality: Results From a National Longitudinal Study of Canadian Adults
Authors: Orpana Heather M. , Berthelot Jean‐Marie , Kaplan Mark S. , Feeny David H. , McFarland Bentson , Ross Nancy A.
Published: June 2009

Although a clear risk of mortality is associated with obesity, the risk of mortality associated with overweight is equivocal. The objective of this study is to estimate the relationship between BMI and all‐cause mortality in a nationally representative sample of Canadian adults. A sample of 11,326 respondents aged ≥25 in the 1994/1995 National Population Health Survey (Canada) was studied using Cox proportional hazards models. A significant increased risk of mortality over the 12 years of follow‐up was observed for underweight (BMI <18.5; relative risk (RR) = 1.73, P < 0.001) and obesity class II+ (BMI >35; RR = 1.36, P <0.05). Overweight (BMI 25 to <30) was associated with a significantly decreased risk of death (RR = 0.83, P < 0.05). The RR was close to one for obesity class I (BMI 30–35; RR = 0.95, P >0.05). Our results are similar to those from other recent studies, confirming that underweight and obesity class II+ are clear risk factors for mortality, and showing that when compared to the acceptable BMI category, overweight appears to be protective against mortality. Obesity class I was not associated with an increased risk of mortality.
Influences of Normobaric Hypoxia Training on Physical Fitness and Metabolic Risk Markers in Overweight to Obese Subjects
Authors: Wiesner Susanne , Haufe Sven , Engeli Stefan , Mutschler Harry , Haas Ute , Luft Friedrich C. , Jordan Jens
Published: June 2009

Previous studies suggested that hypoxia and exercise may have a synergistic effect on cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors. We conducted a single blind study in overweight to obese subjects to test the hypothesis that training under hypoxia (HG, n = 24, FiO2 = 15%) results in similar or even greater improvement in body weight and metabolic risk markers compared with exercise under normoxia (NG, n = 21, FiO2 = 21%). After an initial metabolic evaluation including incremental exercise testing, subjects trained in normoxic or hypoxic conditions thrice weekly over a 4‐week period at a heart rate corresponding to 65% of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). The experimental groups were similar at the start of the investigation and weight stable during the training period. Subjects in the hypoxia group trained at a significantly lower workload (P < 0.05). Yet, both groups showed similar improvements in VO2max and time to exhaustion. Respiratory quotient and lactate at the anaerobic threshold as well as body composition improved more in the hypoxia group. We conclude that in obese subjects, training in hypoxia elicits a similar or even better response in terms of physical fitness, metabolic risk markers, and body composition at a lower workload. The fact that workload and, therefore, mechanic strain can be reduced in hypoxia could be particularly beneficial in obese patients with orthopedic comorbidities.
Central Administration of an Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Inducer Inhibits the Anorexigenic Effects of Leptin and Insulin
Authors: Won Jong Chul , Jang Pil‐Geum , Namkoong Churl , Koh Eun Hee , Kim Suk Kyeoug , Park Joong‐Yeol , Lee Ki‐Up , Kim Min‐Seon
Published: June 2009

Leptin and insulin are important anorexigenic hormones acting on the hypothalamus. However, most obese humans and animals have reduced hypothalamic responses to leptin and insulin. Increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been shown to cause insulin resistance in the livers of obese animals. In the present study, we investigated a role of ER stress in the development of central leptin and insulin resistance. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of the ER stress inducer thapsigargin (TG) increased food intake and body weight. Furthermore, ICV or intra‐hypothalamic administration of TG inhibited the anorexigenic and weight‐reducing effects of leptin and insulin. ICV administration of TG by itself activated signal‐transduction‐activated‐transcript‐3 (STAT3) and Akt in the hypothalamus, but prevented a further activation of hypothalamic STAT3 and Akt by leptin and insulin. We also found that the expression of the ER stress markers such as phosphorylation of the inositol‐requiring kinase‐1 (IRE1), spliced form of X‐box‐binding protein‐1 (XBP‐1s), glucose‐regulated/binding immunoglobulin protein‐78, and C/EBP homology protein (CHOP) increased in the hypothalami of diet‐induced obese (DIO) mice. Furthermore, treatment of chemical chaperone 4‐phenyl butylic acid significantly improved central leptin resistance in DIO mice. These findings suggest that increased hypothalamic ER stress in obese animals may induce central leptin and insulin resistance.
Cardiac Function During Exercise in Obese Prepubertal Boys: Effect of Degree of Obesity
Authors: Schuster Iris , Karpoff Lucie , Perez‐Martin Antonia , Oudot Carole , Startun Aliona , Rubini Madeleine , Obert Philippe , Vinet Agnès
Published: June 2009

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the dynamics of diastolic and systolic function from rest to maximal exercise using conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in obese prepubertal boys compared to age‐matched lean controls. Eighteen obese (10 with first degree obesity and 8 with second degree obesity according to French curves, BMI: 23.3 ± 1.8 and 29.0 ± 2.0 kg/m2, respectively) and 17 lean controls (BMI = 17.6 ± 0.6 kg/m2, P < 0.001), aged 10–12 years were recruited. After resting echocardiography, all children performed a maximal exercise test. Regional diastolic and systolic myocardial velocities were acquired at rest and each workload. Stroke volume and cardiac output were calculated. At rest, obese boys had greater left ventricular (LV) diameters and LV mass. Boys in the first degree group showed no diastolic or systolic dysfunction, whereas boys with second degree obesity showed subtle diastolic dysfunction. During exercise, both obese groups showed greater stroke volume and cardiac output. First degree obese boys exhibited greater systolic and diastolic tissue Doppler velocities than controls, whereas second degree obese boys had lower diastolic tissue velocities irrespective of exercise intensity and lower fractional shortening at high exercise intensities than controls. In conclusion, no impairment in diastolic or systolic function is noticed in prepubertal boys with first degree of obesity. Enhanced regional myocardial function response to exercise was also demonstrated in this population, suggesting adaptive compensatory cardiac changes in mild obesity. However, when obesity becomes more severe, impaired global and regional cardiac function at rest and during exercise can be observed.
PPARG Genotype Accounts for Part of Individual Variation in Body Weight Reduction in Response to Calorie Restriction
Authors: Matsuo Tomoaki , Nakata Yoshio , Katayama Yasutomi , Iemitsu Motoyuki , Maeda Seiji , Okura Tomohiro , Kim Maeng‐Kyu , Ohkubo Hiroyuki , Hotta Kikuko , Tanaka Kiyoji
Published: June 2009

Several studies indicate that expression of the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ (PPARG) gene is influenced by calorie restriction. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PPARG gene variations are associated with weight reduction and changes in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in response to a 14‐week calorie restriction. In total, 95 middle‐aged, Japanese women (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) enrolled as subjects for 14 weeks and attended weekly dietary lectures instructing them on how to consume a nutritionally balanced diet of 1,200 kcal/day. Eight single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PPARG gene (rs1801282 (Pro/Ala), rs2292101, rs2959272, rs1386835, rs709158, rs1175540, rs1175544, and rs1797912) were analyzed. Body weight decreased significantly (−7.7 ± 3.1 kg; −11.3 ± 4.4%) during the intervention. Six PPARG SNPs (rs2959272, rs1386835, rs709158, rs1175540, rs1175544, and rs1797912) were significantly associated with the weight reduction, with rs1175544 having the strongest association (P = 0.004). No differences across the rs1175544 genotypes were observed in any of the blood analyses or in blood pressure. In a multiple regression analysis, the rs1175544 genotypes accounted for 7% of the total weight reduction variance. These data suggest that one SNP of the PPARG genotype accounted for a significant portion of the total body weight reduction variance in response to a short‐term intervention consisting of calorie restriction; however, no relationship was found between these SNPs and the changes in CHD risk factors which accompanied weight loss.
Effect of a High‐fat Diet on 24‐Hour Pattern of Circulating Adipocytokines in Rats
Authors: Cano Pilar , Cardinali Daniel P. , Ríos‐Lugo María J. , Fernández‐Mateos María P. , Toso Carlos F. Reyes , Esquifino Ana I.
Published: June 2009

We have shown a significant disruption of 24‐h pattern of plasma pituitary, adrenal, and gonadal hormones in high‐fat‐fed rats. Our objective was to assess the effect of a high‐fat diet (35% fat) on mean levels and 24‐h pattern of several adipocytokines in rats. A normal diet–fed rats (4% fat) were used as controls. When body weight of high‐fat‐fed rats attained values about 25% higher than controls (after 66 days of treatment), the animals were killed at six different time intervals throughout a 24‐h cycle. Plasma concentrations of insulin, adiponectin, interleukin (IL)‐1, leptin, ghrelin, plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1), and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) were measured in a multianalyte profiling by using the Luminex‐100 system. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and IL‐6 were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. A significant hyperglycemia developed in high‐fat‐fed rats, together with a significant increase in plasma insulin. Mean levels of plasma adiponectin, IL‐1, IL‐6, TNFα, and leptin augmented, and ghrelin decreased, in high‐fat‐fed rats. The normal daily pattern of plasma insulin, adiponectin, IL‐1, IL‐6, TNFα, leptin, ghrelin, and MCP‐1 became disrupted in high‐fat‐fed rats. The results indicate that a high‐fat diet may bring about signs of insulin resistance and mild inflammation in rats, together with the disruption in daily variations of circulating insulin and ghrelin, and of several adipocytokines including leptin, adiponectin, IL‐1, IL‐6, TNFα, and MCP‐1.
The Gene Expression of the Main Lipogenic Enzymes is Downregulated in Visceral Adipose Tissue of Obese Subjects
Authors: Ortega Francisco J. , Mayas Dolores , Moreno‐Navarrete José M. , Catalán Victoria , Gómez‐Ambrosi Javier , Esteve Eduardo , Rodriguez‐Hermosa Jose I. , Ruiz Bartomeu , Ricart Wifredo , Peral Belen , Fruhbeck Gema , Tinahones Francisco J. , Fernández‐Real José M.
Published: June 2009

Contradictory findings regarding the gene expression of the main lipogenic enzymes in human adipose tissue depots have been reported. In this cross‐sectional study, we aimed to evaluate the mRNA expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl‐CoA carboxilase (ACC) in omental and subcutaneous (SC) fat depots from subjects who varied widely in terms of body fat mass. FAS and ACC gene expression were evaluated by real time‐PCR in 188 samples of visceral adipose tissue which were obtained during elective surgical procedures in 119 women and 69 men. Decreased sex‐adjusted FAS (−59%) and ACC (−49%) mRNA were found in visceral adipose tissue from obese subjects, with and without diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM‐2), compared with lean subjects (both P < 0.0001). FAS mRNA was also decreased (−40%) in fat depots from overweight subjects (P < 0.05). Indeed, FAS mRNA was significantly and positively associated with ACC gene expression (r = 0.316, P < 0.0001) and negatively with BMI (r = −0.274), waist circumference (r = −0.437), systolic blood pressure (r = −0.310), serum glucose (r = −0.277), and fasting triglycerides (r = −0.226), among others (all P < 0.0001). Similar associations were observed for ACC gene expression levels. In a representative subgroup of nonobese (n = 4) and obese women (n = 6), relative FAS gene expression levels significantly correlated (r = 0.657, P = 0.034; n = 10) with FAS protein values. FAS protein levels were also inversely correlated with blood glucose (r = −0.640, P = 0.046) and fasting triglycerides (r = −0.832, P = 0.010). In conclusion, the gene expression of the main lipogenic enzymes is downregulated in visceral adipose tissue from obese subjects.
Acute Effects of Dietary Glycemic Index on Antioxidant Capacity in a Nutrient‐controlled Feeding Study
Authors: Botero Diego , Ebbeling Cara B. , Blumberg Jeffrey B. , Ribaya‐Mercado Judy D. , Creager Mark A. , Swain Janis F. , Feldman Henry A. , Ludwig David S.
Published: June 2009

Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between antioxidant capacity and reactive oxygen species, may be an early event in a metabolic cascade elicited by a high glycemic index (GI) diet, ultimately increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. We conducted a feeding study to evaluate the acute effects of low‐GI compared with high‐GI diets on oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease risk factors. The crossover study comprised two 10‐day in‐patient admissions to a clinical research center. For the admissions, 12 overweight or obese (BMI: 27–45 kg/m2) male subjects aged 18–35 years consumed low‐GI or high‐GI diets controlled for potentially confounding nutrients. On day 7, after an overnight fast and then during a 5‐h postprandial period, we assessed total antioxidant capacity (total and perchloric acid (PCA) protein‐precipitated plasma oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay) and oxidative stress status (urinary F2α‐isoprostanes (F2IP)). On day 10, we measured cardiovascular disease risk factors. Under fasting conditions, total antioxidant capacity was significantly higher during the low‐GI vs. high‐GI diet based on total ORAC (11,736 ± 668 vs. 10,381 ± 612 µmol Trolox equivalents/l, P = 0.002) and PCA‐ORAC (1,276 ± 96 vs. 1,210 ± 96 µmol Trolox equivalents/l, P = 0.02). Area under the postprandial response curve also differed significantly between the two diets for total ORAC and PCA‐ORAC. No diet effects were observed for the other variables. Enhancement in plasma total antioxidant capacity occurs within 1 week on a low‐GI diet, before changes in other risk factors, raising the possibility that this phenomenon may mediate, at least in part, the previously reported effects of GI on health.
FTO Genotype Is Associated With Exercise Training–induced Changes in Body Composition
Authors: Rankinen Tuomo , Rice Treva , Teran‐Garcia Margarita , Rao Dabeeru C. , Bouchard Claude
Published: June 2009

The fat mass (FM) and obesity‐associated (FTO) gene is the first obesity‐susceptibility gene identified by genome‐wide association scans and confirmed in several follow‐up studies. Homozygotes for the risk allele (A/A) have 1.67 times greater risk of obesity than those who do not have the allele. However, it is not known whether regular exercise‐induced changes in body composition are influenced by the FTO genotype. The purpose of our study was to test whether the FTO genotype is associated with exercise‐induced changes in adiposity. Body composition was derived from underwater weighing before and after a 20‐week endurance training program in 481 previously sedentary white subjects of the HERITAGE Family Study. FTO single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs8050136 was genotyped using Illumina GoldenGate assay. In the sedentary state, the A/A homozygotes were significantly heavier and fatter than the heterozygotes and the C/C homozygotes in men (P = 0.004) but not in women (P = 0.331; gene‐by‐sex interaction P = 0.0053). The FTO genotype was associated with body fat responses to regular exercise (P < 0.005; adjusted for age, sex, and baseline value of response trait): carriers of the C allele showed three times greater FM and %body fat losses than the A/A homozygotes. The FTO genotype explained 2% of the variance in adiposity changes. Our data suggest that the FTO obesity‐susceptibility genotype influences the body fat responses to regular exercise. Resistance to exercise‐induced reduction in total adiposity may represent one mechanism by which the FTO A allele promotes overweight and obesity.