bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical analysis of vegetation dynamics over 71 years: soil–rainfall interactions in a Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem
Authors: Browning Dawn M. , Duniway Michael C. , Laliberte Andrea S. , Rango Albert
Published: November 2011

Proliferation of woody plants in grasslands and savannas is a persistent problem globally. This widely observed shift from grass to shrub dominance in rangelands worldwide has been heterogeneous in space and time largely due to cross‐scale interactions among soils, climate, and land‐use history. Our objective was to use a hierarchical framework to evaluate the relationship between spatial patterns in soil properties and long‐term shrub dynamics in the northern Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico, USA. To meet this objective, shrub patch dynamics from 1937 to 2008 were characterized at patch and landscape scales using historical imagery and a recent digital soils map. Effects of annual precipitation on patch dynamics on two soils revealed strong correlations between shrub growth on deep sandy soils and above‐average rainfall years (r = 0.671, P = 0.034) and shrub colonization and below‐average rainfall years on shallow sandy soils (r = 0.705, P = 0.023). Patch‐level analysis of demographic patterns revealed significant differences between shrub patches on deep and shallow sandy soils during periods of above‐ and below‐average rainfall. Both deep and shallow sandy soils exhibited low shrub cover in 1937 (1.0% ± 2.3% and 0.3% ± 1.3%, respectively [mean ± SD]) and were characterized by colonization or appearance of new patches until 1960. However, different demographic responses to the cessation of severe drought on the two soils and increased frequency of wet years after 1960 have resulted in very different endpoints. In 2008 a shrubland occupied the deep sandy soils with cover at 19.8% ± 9.1%, while a shrub‐dominated grassland occurred on the shallow sandy soils with cover at 9.3% ± 7.2%. Present‐day shrub vegetation constitutes a shifting mosaic marked by the coexistence of patches at different stages of development. Management implications of this long‐term multi‐scale assessment of vegetation dynamics support the notion that soil properties may constrain grassland remediation. Such efforts on sandy soils should be focused on sites characterized by near‐surface water‐holding capacity, as those lacking available water‐holding capacity in the shallow root zone pose challenges to grass recovery and survival.
Analysis of data transmission technique based on pulsed laser
Authors: Drozd T. , Zygmunt M. , Knysak P. , Wojtanowski J.
Published: November 2011

Pulsed lasers are used mainly in lidar systems as sources of short and highly energetic light pulses. In data transmission systems continuous wave lasers are typically applied, however it is also possible to use pulsed lasers in such systems. Such approach seems to be especially reasonable for devices where a pulsed laser is applied anyway and executes another function (rangefinding). The article discusses a data transmission concept based on a pulsed laser technology. Advantages and limits of such a transmission method are described. Influence of individual transmission elements on the effective data transmission speed is analysed.
Ultrasensitive laser spectroscopy for breath analysis
Authors: Wojtas J. , Bielecki Z. , Stacewicz T. , Mikołajczyk J. , Nowakowski M.
Published: November 2011

At present there are many reasons for seeking new methods and technologies that aim to develop new and more perfect sensors for different chemical compounds. However, the main reasons are safety ensuring and health care. In the paper, recent advances in the human breath analysis by the use of different techniques are presented. We have selected non-invasive ones ensuring detection of pathogenic changes at a molecular level. The presence of certain molecules in the human breath is used as an indicator of a specific disease. Thus, the analysis of the human breath is very useful for health monitoring. We have shown some examples of diseases’ biomarkers and various methods capable of detecting them. Described methods have been divided into non-optical and optical methods. The former ones are the following: gas chromatography, flame ionization detection, mass spectrometry, ion mobility spectrometry, proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry, selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry. In recent twenty years, the optical methods have become more popular, especially the laser techniques. They have a great potential for detection and monitoring of the components in the gas phase. These methods are characterized by high sensitivity and good selectivity. The spectroscopic sensors provide the opportunity to detect specific gases and to measure their concentration either in a sampling place or a remote one. Multipass spectroscopy, cavity ring-down spectroscopy, and photo-acoustic spectroscopy were characterised in the paper as well.
Chemical Interference of Biological Systems with Natural Products
Authors: Gademann Karl , Sieber Simon
Published: November 2011

Chemical compounds isolated from natural sources offer unique opportunities to understand life on a molecular level. In this account, an overview over different natural products investigated in our research group over the last decade is presented. We have shown that protein localization
in living cells can be controlled by anguinomycins and derivatives. Furthermore, a truncated analog, SB640, was discovered that retained much of the natural product potency. Detailed studies of the iron chelator anachelin led to the development of a bio-inspired platform for the generation
of bioactive interfaces. The discovery of natural products isolated from cyanobacteria such as nostocarboline, aerucyclamides, cyanopetolin 1020 and various microcystins is presented and their molecular mechanisms of action were investigated. The last part describes the synthesis and evaluation
of various natural products involved in neuritogenesis and synapse reconstruction such as withanolide A, militarinone, farinosone A and C and torrubiellone C. Their potential with regard to their use in regenerative medicine is discussed.
Distribution of energy density of Dirac field in the closed universe
Authors: Sharma SK , Khanal U
Published: November 2011

The behavior of the energy of the free Dirac field in the closed FRW universe has been looked at. It is generally expected that the comoving energy density for the particles is conserved. Although this expectation is true for the massless fields, it is not for the massive ones. So, there is a finite energy current in any finite sized volume of the universe. The energy current is positive throughout for lowest state, n = 0. For n = 1, however, there occurs negative energy flow near r = π/2. So energy flows out of the region. It may be expected that the two regions, on either sides may become disjoint over time, but this can be confirmed only after studying the time evolution. If confirmed, this could explain the process of fragmentation of large structures. Larger n appears to produce larger number of such density contrasts. Key words: Closed Universe; Dirac field; Energy DensityDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/sw.v9i9.5492SW 2011; 9(9): 1-3
Particle number and current in Dirac field in the closed universe
Authors: Dhungel PR , Khanal U
Published: November 2011

The behavior of the particle number and particle current of the free Dirac field in the closed FRW universe has been explored. Although the particle number is conserved for the massless fields as expected, it is not for the massive ones. So, there is a finite particle current in any finite sized volume of the universe. Such currents tend to enhance the density contrast over time. It is seen that the momenta of the Dirac particle is quantized in a closed FRW model. The particles distribute themselves in such a way as to resemble that required for the flattened rotation curves of galaxies. Key words: Closed Universe; Dirac field; Comoving particle number density DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/sw.v9i9.5508 SW 2011; 9(9): 4-7
Regeneration of Shorea robusta. Gaertn in tropical forest of Palpa district, central Nepal
Authors: Basyal Sarita , Lekhak HD , Devkota Anjana
Published: November 2011

A study on the regeneration of the Shorea robusta Gaertn in tropical forest of Palpa district was carried out during June-November, 2005. The altitude of study area ranged from 200 m -700 m asl in north facing slope. The study area was natural forest where, Shorea robusta and Terminalia alata, were dominant species .The size class distribution of Shorea robusta resembled the reverse J-shaped curve indicates better regeneration of sal in study area. Sapling and seedling density of Shorea robusta significantly correlated (p=0.01) but was no significant relation with soil parameter. Keywords: Regeneration; Shorea robusta; Size Class distribution Tropical Forest DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/sw.v9i9.5519 SW 2011; 9(9): 53-56   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/sw.v9i9.5518
Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial assay of some Nepalese medicinal plants
Authors: Maharjan Bijaya Laxmi , Mainali Smritri , Baral Bikash
Published: November 2011

Medicinal plants constitute several bioactive compounds that are antimicrobial. Due to the extensive need of the new antimicrobial compounds of plant origin the study was conducted. The present paper deals with the qualitative phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial assay of methanolic extracts of four medicinal plants namely Butea monosperma (seed), Cissampelos pareira (root), Myrica esculenta (bark) and Selinum tenuifolium (root). The standard phytochemical test of the extracts revealed the presence of polyphenols, glycosides and coumarins in all the plant extracts. For the in-vitro antimicrobial assay, agar well diffusion method was employed against human pathogenic bacteria (11) and phytopathogenic fungi (5). The extracts of C. pareira, M. esculenta were effective against all the tested bacteria and fungi which indicated their broad spectrum antimicrobial potential. The extract of B. monosperma was effective against B. subtilis, S. typhi, Acinetobacter species, F. oxysporum, F. moniliformie, E. turticum and S. roulfsii. But the extract of S. tenuifolium was ineffective against all the tested bacteria but was effective against all the fungal strains revealing it to have more antifungal potential. The antimicrobial properties of these plant extracts may be due to the presence of various secondary metabolites. The results provided evidence that the studied plants might indeed be employed in the management of microbial infections. Key words: Plant extract; Phytochemicals; Antibacterial; Antifungal DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/sw.v9i9.5526 SW 2011; 9(9): 90-92
Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Using Pseudomonas and Its Antifungal Activity against Phytopathogens
Authors: Rajeswari T , Elayarajah B , Venkatrajah B , Rajakumar S , R Vijayaraghavan , Vijayaraghavan R
Published: November 2011

Fluorescent Pseudomonas isolated from oil-spilled soil were studied for the degradation of oil (Commercially available 2T oil) sample by growing in Bushnell Hass medium. The hydrocarbon degradation was measured calorimetrically in the basal media based on the turbidity. The degraded oil sample was utilized for studying its efficiency in Phaseolus aureus seeds germination. The thin layer chromatographic technique differentiates the specific components of antifungal metabolites and was isolated by centrifugation technique showed the Rf value of about 0.34. Antagonistic potential of these metabolites were demonstrated by agar diffusion method and spot inoculation method. The present study thus demonstrated the ability of the isolated Pseudomanas fluorescens to utilize crude oil in liquid media and to compete with indigenous soil microorganisms, enhance crude oil degradation and reduces its phytotoxicity.Key words: Biodegradation; Petroleum hydrocarbons; Pseudomanas fluorescens; Phytopathogen; Antifungal activityDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v46i3.3858 BJSIR 2011; 46(3): 297-302
Manganese Removal Status by Arsenic Removal Technologies Available in Bangladesh: Manganese Removal Treatment by Sodium Hypochlorite
Authors: Siraj S , Kazi AI , Ahmed S , Akbor MA , Ahsan A
Published: November 2011

In addition to arsenic, the groundwater in Bangladesh is often found to be contaminated with manganese whose permissible limit set by WHO being 400 ppb in drinking water. Since most arsenic removal technologies (ARTs) are designed to remove As and not to remove Mn, during field testing and verification of performance of ARTs under the Bangladesh Environmental Technology Verification-Support to Arsenic Mitigation (BETV-SAM) project of BCSIR, it has been found that only the Sono technology using Fe0 as arsenic removal medium which can also remove Mn to produce Mn safe drinking water but others such as Alcan, Read-F household, Sidko, Nelima, Shawdesh cannot. During field testing of these technologies under the BETV-SAM project, it has been attempted to treat Mn by a traditional chlorine oxidation method to produce Mn safe drinking water. Concentrations of dissolved As (T), As (III), Fe, Mn and pH in the considered well water for manganese treatment were in ranges of 125 - 1247 ppb, 116 - 1127 ppb, 1.40 - 15.5 ppm, 505 - 2245 ppb and 7.0 to 7.5, respectively. The required chlorine dose and time for treatment of manganese in 20 L water have been found to be 6.2 - 12.4 ppm and 1 - 2 h, respectively. Keyword: Arsenic; Manganese; ART; Verification; Chlorine; Iron. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v46i3.9033 BJSIR 2011; 46(3): 291-296
Growth Performance and Nutritional Analysis of Spirulina platensis in Different Concentrations of Papaya Skin Powder Media
Authors: Toyub MA , Uddin MZ , Miah MI , Habib MAB
Published: November 2011

The growth performance of Spirulina platensis was studied in four different concentrations viz. 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 g/l of papaya (Carica papaya) skin powder media (PSPM) and in control, Kosaric Medium (KM) in triplicate. The initial cell weight of S. platensis was 6.0 mg/l which attained a maximum weight of 913.13 mg/l on the 10th day of culture in the control KM followed by 699.07, 612.13, 538.99 and 377.48 mg/l that grown in 0.40, 0.30, 0.50 and 0.60 g/l of PSPM respectively. Similar trend was observed in the case of chlorophyll a content ranging 3.57 to 8.15 mg/l. The specific growth rate (SGR, μ/day) of S. platensis on the basis of cell weight and chlorophyll a content was recorded in the ranges of 0.41 to 0.50 and 0.41 to 0.49, respectively, for all the treatments. The SGR on the basis of cell weight and chlorophyll a was recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher in KM among all the treatments. On the other hand among the four different concentrations of PSPM, 0.40 g/l showed significantly (p<0.05) higher SGR than others. The pH and other physico-chemical factors were within suitable range of algae culture. The cultured microalga was nutritionally rich. Keywords: Spirulina; Papaya skin; Cell weight ; Chlorophyll a DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v46i3.9039 BJSIR 2011; 46(3): 333-338
Synthesis and Screening of Aromatase Inhibitory Activity of Substituted C19 Steroidal 17-Oxime Analogs
Authors: Pokhrel Muna , Ma Eunsook
Published: November 2011

The synthesis and aromatase inhibitory activity of androst-4-en-, androst-5-en-, 1β,2β-epoxy- and/or androsta-4,6-dien-, 4β,5β-epoxyandrostane-, and 4-substituted androst-4-en-17-oxime derivatives are described. Inhibition activity of synthesized compounds was assessed using aromatase enzyme and [1β-3H]androstenedione as substrate. Most of the compounds displayed similar to or more aromatase inhibitory activity than formestane (74.2%). 4-Chloro-3β-hydroxy-4-androsten-17-one oxime (14, 93.8%) showed the highest activity, while 4-azido-3β-hydroxy-4-androsten-17-one oxime (17, 32.8%) showed the lowest inhibitory activity for aromatase.
Earthworm (Eisenia andrei) Avoidance of Soils Treated with Cypermethrin
Authors: Sousa Ana Paula A. de , Andréa Mara M. de
Published: November 2011

The pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin is used for agricultural and public health campaigns. Its residues may contaminate soils and the beneficial soil organisms, like the earthworms, that may ingest the contaminated soil particles. Due to its ecological relevance, earthworms Eisenia andrei/fetida have been used in different ecotoxicological tests. The avoidance of soils treated with cypermethrin by compost worms Eisenia andrei was studied here as a bioindicator of the influence of treatment dosage and the pesticide formulation in three different agricultural soils indicated by the Brazilian environmental authorities for ecotoxicological tests. This earthworms’ behavior was studied here as a first attempt to propose the test for regulation purposes. The two-compartment test systems, where the earthworms were placed for a two-day exposure period, contained samples of untreated soil alone or together with soil treated with technical grade or wettable powder formulation of cypermethrin. After 48 h, there was no mortality, but the avoidance was clear because all earthworms were found in the untreated section of each type of soil (p < 0.05). No differences were found by the Fisher’s exact test (p ≤ 1.000) for each soil and treatment, demonstrating that the different soil characteristics, the cypermethrin concentrations and formulation, as well as the smaller amounts of soil and earthworms did not influence the avoidance behavior of the earthworms to cypermethrin. The number and range of treatments used in this study do not allow a detailed recommendation of the conditions applied here, but to the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported attempt to identify the avoidance of pesticide treated tropical soils by earthworms.
Design of Sensor Data Processing Steps in an Air Pollution Monitoring System
Authors: Jung Young Jin , Lee Yang Koo , Lee Dong Gyu , Lee Yongmi , Nittel Silvia , Beard Kate , Nam Kwang Woo , Ryu Keun Ho
Published: November 2011

Environmental monitoring is required to understand the effects of various kinds of phenomena such as a flood, a typhoon, or a forest fire. To detect the environmental conditions in remote places, monitoring applications employ the sensor networks to detect conditions, context models to understand phenomena, and computing technology to process the large volumes of data. In this paper, we present an air pollution monitoring system to provide alarm messages about potentially dangerous areas with sensor data analysis. We design the data analysis steps to understand the detected air pollution regions and levels. The analyzed data is used to track the pollution and to give an alarm. This implemented monitoring system is used to mitigate the damages caused by air pollution.
Protein Binding Detection Using On-Chip Silicon Gratings
Authors: Mudraboyina Anil Kumar , Sabarinathan Jayshri
Published: November 2011

We demonstrate a silicon gratings-based biosensor to detect functionalized protein binding on its surface. The designed silicon gratings have sensitivities up to 197 nm/RIU in detecting refractive index change and 1.61 nm per nanometer of thickness change of bio-material on the surface of silicon gratings. Functionalizing proteins on gratings surface by eliminating unspecific binding makes this device more selective and efficient. Streptavidin at a concentration of 0.016 µmol/mL was functionalized on silicon substrate and biotin of 12 µmol/mL concentration was used as a target molecule in our detection experiments. Normal transmission measurements of gratings are made in air at different stages of immobilization, bare silicon grating, after attaching streptavidin and after trapping biotin. Total shifts in resonant peak wavelength of ~15 nm in normal transmission were observed after immobilizing biotin with ~7 nm of shift in resonant peak wavelength after functionalizing streptavidin to silicon substrate.
Effects of Ritonavir-Boosted Darunavir, Atazanavir and Lopinavir on Adipose Functions and Insulin Sensitivity in Murine and Human Adipocytes
Authors: Capel Emilie , Auclair Martine , Caron-Debarle Martine , Capeau Jacqueline
Published: November 2011

Background

Ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors (PIs) could adversely affect metabolism and adipose tissue to different extents, depending on the molecule. Using drugs with minimal adverse metabolic effects is an important consideration in at-risk HIV-infected patients. In vitro adipocyte models can be useful for comparing the effects of different PIs.

Methods

We compared the effects of darunavir, darunavir/ritonavir, atazanavir/ritonavir and lopinavir/ritonavir in murine and human adipocytes on differentiation, mitochondrial function, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and insulin sensitivity.

Results

In human and murine adipocytes, differentiation evaluated by lipid content and protein expression of adipogenic markers, mitochondrial function evaluated by aggregation of the cationic dye JC-1 and by 3-[4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide lysis, and mitochondrial mass evaluated by MitoTracker fluorescence and the expression of mitochondrial proteins were unaffected by darunavir, mildly affected by darunavir/ritonavir and further altered by atazanavir/ritonavir and lopinavir/ ritonavir. ROS production was unaltered by darunavir and darunavir/ritonavir but was increased by lopinavir/ritonavir and atazanavir/ritonavir. Regarding insulin sensitivity, darunavir and darunavir/ritonavir had no significant effect on insulin activation of protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) and MAP kinase and of glucose transport, whereas lopinavir/ ritonavir and atazanavir/ritonavir partly impaired the effect of insulin. The effect of atazanavir/ritonavir was generally milder than that of lopinavir/ritonavir.

Conclusions

The various PIs differentially modified adipocyte functions. Darunavir alone did not affect adipocyte functions and only modestly altered differentiation and mitochondrial function when associated with ritonavir. Lopinavir/ritonavir adversely affected differentiation and lipid content, mitochondrial function, ROS production and insulin sensitivity, and the effect of atazanavir/ ritonavir was intermediate. Thus, in vitro, darunavir/ritonavir presented a safer metabolic profile on adipocytes than atazanavir/ritonavir and lopinavir/ritonavir.
Bilateral asymptomatic incidental vulvar/labial hemangioma: Kissing Hemangiomas
Authors: Dangle Pankaj P. , Pandya IV Lopa K. , Firlit Casimir F.
Published: November 2011

We present a rare case of genital hemangiomas. Generally, hemangiomas are present at birth or in the first year of life and completely resolve by age 10. Most are asymptomatic. We present an 11 year old girl who presented with incidentally diagnosed asymptomatic bilateral hemangiomas on her labia majora. The treatment for genital hemangiomas is not well defined in the literature. We elected to choose watchful waiting as our treatment approach at this time. Long term follow-up is necessary with intention to intervene with multispeciality approach involving gynaecology and plastic surgery to avoid any disfigurement of the local anatomy.
The Cardiovascular Health Impact of An Incentive Worksite Health Promotion Program
Authors: Pescatello Linda S. , Murphy Donna , Vollono Jeannine , Lynch Elizabeth , Bernene James , Costanzo Dino
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

We examined the cardiovascular health profiles of benefit-eligible hospital employees who participated in an incentive screen program for 4 years. We also determined if cardiovascular health changes differed between participants (CHAP) who enrolled in structured follow-up risk reduction programs (CHAPplus) compared with those who chose less formal options (CHAPonly).

Methods.

CHAP consisted of cardiovascular screens, results counseling, and encouragement to participate in education and behavioral support programs. After adjusting for gender, medication use, and baseline levels of adiposity and physical activity, cardiovascular health changes were tested with repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) among CHAP participants and by CHAP type.

Results.

CHAP 4-year members (n = 278) were generally healthy and mostly women (87%) with an average age of 40.6 ± .5 years at baseline. Despite increases in overall (p = .034) and central adiposity (p = .001), cardiovascular health improvements were found for the total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio (TCHOL/HDL; p = .007), low-density lipoprotein (p = .009), and blood glucose (p = .018) among 4-year CHAP members. CHAPonly employees showed greater improvements in most cardiovascular health indicators than CHAPplus participants, although these differences did not achieve statistical significance.

Discussion.

Cardiovascular health improvements were associated with long-term participation in a hospital worksite incentive screen program. The cardiovascular health benefits tended to be greatest for CHAP employees who chose informal follow-up risk reduction options (CHAPonly) than those who enrolled in structured programs (CHAPplus).
Predicting Physical Activity Promotion in Health Care Settings
Authors: Faulkner Guy , Biddle Stuart
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

To test the ability of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting the stage of change for physical activity promotion by mental health professionals.

Design.

Six-month prospective questionnaire study.

Setting.

One mental health trust in the East Midlands, United Kingdom.

Subjects.

Three hundred ninety-four mental health professionals (men, n = 131; women, n = 263) of an initial sample of 477 participated in the study (83% response rate).

Measures.

Attitudes, subjective norms, intentions, perceived behavioral control, and stage of change were measured at the first wave of data collection. Stage of change was also assessed 6 months later. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Results.

Intention and stage of change were successfully predicted from TPB variables. Overall, 27% of the variance in self-reported stage of promoting physical activity was explained by the model. Sixty-one percent of the variance in intention to promote physical activity was explained. When included, past behavior was the strongest predictor of both intention and stage of change and attenuated all other path coefficients. Past behavior improved the predicted variance in intention by 11% and stage by 6%.

Conclusions.

The TPB variables of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention predict stage of change of physical activity promotion in a health care setting. However, promoting physical activity in the past had a sizable effect on predicting subsequent promotion. Due to unequal distribution across stages, the stage model's application to understanding the behavior of health professionals may be limited.
Health and Behavior: The Interplay of Biological, Behavioral, and Social Influences: Summary of an Institute of Medicine Report
Authors: Pellmar Terry C. , Brandt Edward N. , Baird Macaran A.
Published: November 2011

An Institute of Medicine committee was convened to explore the links between biological, psychosocial, and behavioral factors and health and to review effective applications of behavioral interventions. Based on the evidence about interactions of the physiological responses to stress, behavioral choices, and social influences, the committee encouraged additional research efforts to explore the integration of these variables and to evaluate their mechanisms. An understanding of the social factors influencing behavior is growing and should be considered in programs and policies for public health, in addition to individual behavior and physiological status. Interventions to change behaviors have been directed toward individuals, communities, and society. Many intervention trials have documented the capacity of interventions to modify risk factors. However, more trials that include measures of morbidity and mortality to determine if the strategy has the desired health effects are needed. Behavior can be changed and new behaviors can be taught. Maintaining behavior changes is a greater challenge. Although short-term changes in behavior following interventions are encouraging, long-duration efforts are needed to improve health outcomes and to provide long-term assessments of effectiveness. Interventions aimed at any level can influence behavior change; however, existing research suggests that concurrent interventions at multiple levels are most likely to sustain behavior change and should be encouraged.
Differences in Health Care Costs and Utilization among Adults with Selected Lifestyle-Related Risk Factors
Authors: Tucker Larry A. , Clegg Alan G.
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

This study examined the relationship between lifestyle-related health risks and health care costs and utilization in adults.

Design.

A 2-year prospective study with no intervention was used to compare health care utilization and costs in employees with different levels of health risks.

Setting.

Data were collected at a primarily white-collar worksite during 1994 and 1995.

Subjects.

Subjects included 982 employees and spouses, mean age 32.1 ± 10.1 years.

Measures.

Employee medical claims obtained from a third-party administrator were analyzed with respect to health care expenses and utilization. Exercise habits, stress, and overall wellness were assessed by self-report and obesity by the body mass index (BMI). Regression, regression with outliers removed, and odds ratios were used to analyze the associations.

Results.

Employees who were at high risk for overall wellness (2.4 times), stress (1.9 times), and obesity (1.7 times) were more likely to have high health care costs (>$5,000) than subjects not at high risk. Mean total medical costs also were greater for high-risk subjects compared to lower risk subjects for overall wellness (difference = $1,973; F = 10.65, p = .001), stress (difference = $1,137; F = 7.35, p = .007), and obesity (difference = $1,092; F = 9.09, p = .003). The exercise habits measure was not significantly associated with health care costs or utilization.

Conclusions.

Results indicate that health risks, particularly obesity, stress, and general lifestyle, are significant predictors of health care costs and utilization in employed young adults.
A contrail cirrus prediction model
Authors: Schumann U.
Published: November 2011

Abstract. A new model to simulate and predict the properties of a large ensemble of contrails as a function of given air traffic and meteorology is described. The model is designed for approximate prediction of contrail cirrus cover and analysis of contrail climate impact, e.g. within aviation system optimization processes. The model simulates the full contrail life-cycle. Contrail segments form between waypoints of individual aircraft tracks in sufficiently cold and humid air masses. The initial contrail properties depend on the aircraft. The advection and evolution of the contrails is followed with a Lagrangian Gaussian plume model. Mixing and bulk cloud processes are treated quasi analytically or with an effective numerical scheme. Contrails disappear when the bulk ice content is sublimating or precipitating. The model has been implemented in a "Contrail Cirrus Prediction Tool" (CoCiP). This paper describes the model assumptions, the equations for individual contrails, and the analysis-method for contrail-cirrus cover derived from the optical depth of the ensemble of contrails and background cirrus. The model has been applied for a case study and compared to the results of other models and in-situ contrail measurements. The simple model reproduces a considerable part of observed contrail properties. Mid-aged contrails provide the largest contributions to the product of optical depth and contrail width, important for climate impact.
An approximate method of short-term tsunami forecast and the hindcasting of some recent events
Authors: Korolev Yu. P.
Published: November 2011

Abstract. The paper presents a method for a short-term tsunami forecast based on sea level data from remote sites. This method is based on Green's function for the wave equation possessing the fundamental property of symmetry. This property is well known in acoustics and seismology as the reciprocity principle. Some applications of this principle on tsunami research are considered in the current study. Simple relationships and estimated transfer functions enabled us to simulate tsunami waveforms for any selected oceanic point based only on the source location and sea level data from a remote reference site. The important advantage of this method is that it is irrespective of the actual source mechanism (seismic, submarine landslide or other phenomena). The method was successfully applied to hindcast several recent tsunamis observed in the Northwest Pacific. The locations of the earthquake epicenters and the tsunami records from one of the NOAA DART sites were used as inputs for the modelling, while tsunami observations at other DART sites were used to verify the model. Tsunami waveforms for the 2006, 2007 and 2009 earthquake events near Simushir Island were simulated and found to be in good agreement with the observations. The correlation coefficients between the predicted and observed tsunami waveforms were from 0.50 to 0.85. Thus, the proposed method can be effectively used to simulate tsunami waveforms for the entire ocean and also for both regional and local tsunami warning services, assuming that they have access to the real-time sea level data from DART stations.
Three-dimensional magnetic reconnection through a moving magnetic null
Authors: Lukin V. S. , Linton M. G.
Published: November 2011

Abstract. A computational study of three-dimensional magnetic reconnection between two flux ropes through a moving reconnection site is presented. The configuration is considered in the context of two interacting spheromaks constrained by a perfectly conducting cylindrical boundary and oriented to form a single magnetic field null at its center. The initial magnetic field configuration is embedded into a uniform thermal plasma and is unstable to tilting. As the spheromaks tilt, their magnetic fields begin to reconnect at the null, subsequently displacing both the null and the reconnection site. The motion of the reconnection region and the magnetic null are shown to be correlated, with stronger correlation and faster reconnection observed in plasmas with lower thermal to magnetic pressure ratio. It is also shown that ion inertial effects allow for yet faster reconnection, but do not qualitatively change the dynamics of the process. Implications of the coupling between moving magnetic nulls and reconnection sites, as well as of possible mechanisms for fast reconnection through a moving reconnection region, are discussed. The simulations are conducted using both single-fluid and Hall MHD plasma models within the HiFi multi-fluid modeling framework.
Spatial and temporal variability of snow accumulation rate on the East Antarctic ice divide between Dome Fuji and EPICA DML
Authors: Fujita S. , Holmlund P. , Andersson I. , Brown I. , Enomoto H. , Fujii Y. , Fujita K. , Fukui K. , Furukawa T. , Hansson M. , Hara K. , Hoshina Y. , Igarashi M. , Iizuka Y. , Imura S. , Ingvander S. , Karlin T. , Motoyama H. , Nakazawa F. , Oerter H. , Sjöberg L. E. , Sugiyama S. , Surdyk S. , Ström J. , Uemura R. , Wilhelms F.
Published: November 2011

Abstract. To better understand the spatio-temporal variability of the glaciological environment in Dronning Maud Land (DML), East Antarctica, a 2800-km-long Japanese-Swedish traverse was carried out. The route includes ice divides between two ice-coring sites at Dome Fuji and EPICA DML. We determined the surface mass balance (SMB) averaged over various time scales in the late Holocene based on studies of snow pits and firn cores, in addition to radar data. We find that the large-scale distribution of the SMB depends on the surface elevation and continentality, and that the SMB differs between the windward and leeward sides of ice divides for strong-wind events. We suggest that the SMB is highly influenced by interactions between the large-scale surface topography of ice divides and the wind field of strong-wind events that are often associated with high-precipitation events. Local variations in the SMB are governed by the local surface topography, which is influenced by the bedrock topography. In the eastern part of DML, the accumulation rate in the second half of the 20th century is found to be higher by ~15 % than averages over longer periods of 722 a or 7.9 ka before AD 2008. A similar increasing trend has been reported for many inland plateau sites in Antarctica with the exception of several sites on the leeward side of the ice divides.
Birth weight, postnatal weight gain, and adult body composition in five low and middle income countries
Authors: Kuzawa Christopher W. , Hallal Pedro C. , Adair Linda , Bhargava Santosh K. , Fall Caroline H.D. , Lee Nanette , Norris Shane A. , Osmond Clive , Ramirez‐zea Manuel , Sachdev Harshpal Singh , Stein Aryeh D. , Victora Cesar G. ,   COHORTS Group
Published: November 2011

Objectives:

To evaluate the associations between birth weight (BW), infancy, and childhood weight gain and adult body composition.

Methods:

Subjects included participants of five birth cohort studies from low and middle income nations (Brazil, Guatemala, India, Philippines, and South Africa; n = 3432). We modeled adult body composition as a function of BW and conditional weight gain (CW), representing changes in weight trajectory relative to peers, in three age intervals (0–12 months, 12–24 months, 24 months‐mid childhood).

Results:

In 34 of 36 site‐ and sex‐specific models, regression coefficients associated with BW and CWs were higher for adult fat‐free than for fat mass. The strength of coefficients predicting fat‐free mass relative to those predicting fat mass was greatest for BW, intermediate for CWs through 24 months, and weaker thereafter. However, because fat masses were smaller and showed larger variances than fat‐free masses, weaker relationships with fat mass still yielded modest but significant increases in adult % body fat (PBF). CW at 12 months and mid‐childhood tended to be the strongest predictors of PBF, whereas BW was generally the weakest predictor of PBF. For most early growth measures, a 1 SD change predicted less than a 1% change in adult body fat, suggesting that any health impacts of early growth on changes in adult body composition are likely to be small in these cohorts.

Conclusions:

BW and weight trajectories up to 24 months tend to be more strongly associated with adult fat‐free mass than with fat mass, while weight trajectories in mid‐childhood predict both fat mass and fat‐free mass. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Are cardiorespiratory fitness and moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity independently associated to overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity in elderly?
Authors: Santos Diana A. , Silva Analiza M. , Baptista Fátima , Santos Rute , Gobbo Luis A. , Mota Jorge , Sardinha Luis B.
Published: November 2011

Objectives:

This study aimed to examine the independent association of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity (PA) with overweight and total and abdominal obesity in an elderly population.

Methods:

A total of 112 males and 185 females, 65–103 years, were assessed for PA with accelerometers and results from six‐minute walk test were used as a CRF marker. Waist circumference was dichotomized into normal or abdominal obesity and BMI was categorized into normal, overweight, or obesity. Binary logistic regression models were performed.

Results:

Binary logistic regressions showed that, moderate‐to‐vigorous PA (MVPA) predicted OR for abdominal obesity (OR = 1.4%; P = 0.026), obesity (OR = 2.9%; P < 0.001), and both conditions coupled (OR% = 4.0%; P < 0.001). Even adjusting for CRF, MVPA remained a significant predictor. CRF was associated with OR for abdominal obesity (OR = 0.4%; P = 0.001).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, higher CRF is associated with lower risk for abdominal obesity in elderly. Independently MVPA predicts OR for obesity, abdominal obesity, and the cluster of both conditions. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Diet of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda, 2. temporal variation and fallback foods
Authors: WATTS DAVID P. , POTTS KEVIN B. , LWANGA JEREMIAH S. , MITANI JOHN C.
Published: November 2011

Highly frugivorous primates like chimpanzees (Pan trogolodytes) must contend with temporal variation in food abundance and quality by tracking fruit crops and relying more on alternative foods, some of them fallbacks, when fruit is scarce. We used behavioral data from 122 months between 1995 and 2009 plus 12 years of phenology records to investigate temporal dietary variation and use of fallback foods by chimpanzees at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda. Fruit, including figs, comprised most of the diet. Fruit and fig availability varied seasonally, but the exact timing of fruit production and the amount of fruit produced varied extensively from year to year, both overall and within and among species. Feeding time devoted to all major fruit and fig species was positively associated with availability, reinforcing the argument that chimpanzees are ripe fruit specialists. Feeding time devoted to figs—particularlyFicus mucuso(the top food)—varied inversely with the abundance of nonfig fruits and with foraging effort devoted to such fruit. However, figs contributed much of the diet for most of the year and are best seen as staples available most of the time and eaten in proportion to availability. Leaves also contributed much of the diet and served as fallbacks when nonfig fruits were scarce. In contrast to the nearby Kanywara study site in Kibale, pith and stems contributed little of the diet and were not fallbacks. Fruit seasons (periods of at least 2 months when nonfig fruits account for at least 40% of feeding time; Gilby & Wrangham., Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 61:1771–1779, 2007) were more common at Ngogo than Kanyawara, consistent with an earlier report that fruit availability varies less at Ngogo [Chapman et al., African Journal of Ecology 35:287–302, 1997].F. mucusois absent at Kanyawara; its high density at Ngogo, combined with lower variation in fruit availability, probably helps to explain why chimpanzee population density is much higher at Ngogo.
Exome sequencing reveals DNAJB6 mutations in dominantly‐inherited myopathy
Authors: Harms Matthew B. , Sommerville R. Brian , Allred Peggy , Bell Shaughn , Ma Duanduan , Cooper Paul , Lopate Glenn , Pestronk Alan , Weihl Conrad C. , Baloh Robert H.
Published: November 2011

Objective:

To identify the causative gene in an autosomal dominant limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) with skeletal muscle vacuoles.

Methods:

Exome sequencing was used to identify candidate mutations in the studied pedigree. Genome‐wide linkage was then used to narrow the list of candidates to a single disease‐associated mutation. Additional pedigrees with dominant or sporadic myopathy were screened for mutations in the same gene (DNAJB6) using exome sequencing. Skeletal muscle from affected patients was evaluated with histochemistry and immunohistochemical stains for dystrophy‐related proteins, SMI‐31, TDP43, and DNAJB6.

Results:

Exome analysis in 3 affected individuals from a family with dominant LGMD and vacuolar pathology identified novel candidate mutations in 22 genes. Linkage analysis excluded all variants except a Phe93Leu mutation in the G/F domain of the DNAJB6 gene, which resides within the LGMD locus at 7q36. Analysis of exome sequencing data from other pedigrees with dominant myopathy identified a second G/F domain mutation (Pro96Arg) in DNAJB6. Affected muscle showed mild dystrophic changes, vacuoles, and abnormal aggregation of proteins, including TDP‐43 and DNAJB6 itself.

Interpretation:

Mutations within the G/F domain of DNAJB6 are a novel cause of dominantly‐inherited myopathy. DNAJB6 is a member of the HSP40/DNAJ family of molecular co‐chaperones tasked with protecting client proteins from irreversible aggregation during protein synthesis or during times of cellular stress. The abnormal accumulation of several proteins in patient muscle, including DNAJB6 itself, suggest that DNAJB6 function is compromised by the identified G/F domain mutations. ANN NEUROL 2012;
Adsorption of cationic dyes on poly(acrylic acid‐co‐sodium acrylate‐co‐acrylamide) superabsorbents
Authors: Shukla Neelesh Bharti , Madras Giridhar
Published: November 2011

Inverse suspension polymerization was carried out to synthesize poly(acrylic acid‐co‐sodium acrylate‐co‐acrylamide) superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) crosslinked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The equilibrium swelling capacities of the SAPs, determined by swelling them in DI water, were found to vary with the acrylamide (AM) content. The SAPs were used to adsorb four cationic dyes (Acriflavine, Auramine‐O, Azure‐I and Pyronin‐Y). The effect of AM content in the SAPs on the adsorption of the cationic dyes was investigated. Different initial concentrations of Azure‐I were used with the same amount of the SAP to explore the effect of initial dye concentration on the adsorption. The effect of the adsorbent amount was investigated by taking different amounts of SAP with a fixed initial concentration of Acriflavine. The kinetics of the dye adsorption was modeled by a first order model and the equilibrium amount of the dye adsorbed, adsorption rate coefficients, removal efficiency and partition coefficients were determined. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Effects of artemisinins on reticulocyte count and relationship to possible embryotoxicity in confirmed and unconfirmed malarial patients
Authors: Clark Robert L.
Published: November 2011

Rat studies suggest that artemisinin‐induced decreases in reticulocyte count are a marker for embryotoxicity (in one study, r = 0.82; p < 0.05). In clinical studies, therapeutic doses of artemisinins induced decreases in reticulocyte count that were larger in five of six groups of healthy volunteers (mean decreases of 47–75%) than in 12 groups of patients with malaria (mean decreases of 0–34% and incidences of low reticulocyte count of 0.6–18%). Malaria causes hypoferremia and drug concentrates in infected red cells so, among the explanations for the lesser decreases in patients, is that malaria protects against artemisinin‐induced decreases in reticulocyte count by reducing the target tissue levels of active drug and/or ferrous iron which activates the drug to toxic free radicals. The disease could also protect against embryotoxicity in which case pregnant women without malaria would be at greater risk of artemisinin‐induced embryotoxicity. Malaria protection against artesunate toxicity has been observed in rats. No artemisinin‐induced embryotoxicity has been identified in limited numbers of women with confirmed malaria in the first trimester. However, in large parts of tropical Africa, malaria treatment is based on fever rather than confirmation of parasitemia and many pregnant women without malaria are exposed to antimalarials. No clinical studies have been conducted on uninfected women for whom pregnancy was identified and then an artemisinin was administered subsequently. Testing in rats and/or humans is needed to determine if malaria protects against reticulocytopenia and embryotoxicity and whether the parasite is a more or less sensitive target than the embryo and reticulocyte. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.