bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retail Parks Revisited: A Growing Competitive Threat to Traditional Shopping Centres?
Authors: Thomas Colin J , Bromley Rosemary D F , Tallon Andrew R
Published: March 2004

Since the late 1970s retail parks have developed in the United Kingdom to become a substantial element of the process of retail decentralisation. From an early focus on ‘bulky-goods' retailing, they have grown and evolved into a variety of unplanned and planned forms, the largest of which can be characterised as ‘hybrid regional centres’. The more recent addition of typical ‘high-street’ retailers to their functions has earned the epithet ‘fashion parks’. Intermittent concern has been expressed at the likely negative effects that these phenomena are having on the traditional system of city, town, and district shopping centres in British cities. In these circumstances it is surprising that little of the recent retail impact research has focused on the larger retail parks. Partially to redress this deficiency, the authors investigate the impact of a large unplanned retail park on the retail system of the Greater Swansea area. The evidence suggests that the greatest impact continues to be focused on the middle-order district and local town centres. The relationship is now ‘strongly competitive’ rather than ‘benignly complementary’. At the same time, the growth in scale and functional diversity of the retail park suggests a strong ‘competitive erosion’ of the status of the city centre. Thus, local authorities concerned for the future of their city, town, and district shopping centres should view processes operating within the shopping centre development industry in association with the location and marketing strategies of the principal ‘high-street’ multiple retailers with considerable caution.
Explaining the Growth of British Multiple Retailing during the Golden Age: 1976–94
Authors: Morelli Carlo
Published: March 2004

The author examines the growth of multiple retailing during the ‘golden age’ in Britain. The growth of real turnover is used as the dependent variable in a quantitative analysis of the growth in large-scale multiple retailing from 1976 until 1994. The author examines for the first time the determinants of this growth against a variety of supply and demand variables. It is found that the importance given to capital investment in previous studies of the golden age is not justified by the data.
Flying through Code/Space: The Real Virtuality of Air Travel
Authors: Dodge Martin , Kitchin Rob
Published: March 2004

Commercial air travel is a key global industry facilitating the complex daily movements of planes, people, goods, and services across the world. In this paper we analyse contemporary air travel through the conceptualisation of a culture of real virtuality. We contend that air travel now consists of passage through ‘code/space’. Such code/space includes travel websites, check-in, security checkpoints, flight decks, air-traffic control, immigration, and customs checkpoints, which together form assemblages that define the practices and experiences of air travel. Code/space is qualitatively different to coded space, in which software influences the production of space, in that code and space are mutually constituted—produced through one another. This mutual constitution is dyadic so that if either the code or space ‘fail’, the production of space ‘fails’. Our formulation of code/space is non-deterministic and nonuniversal, and how code/space operates and is experienced is embodied through the performances and interactions of the people within the space (between people, and between people and code). In this sense, code/space is constantly in a state of becoming. We illustrate the nature of code/space, and the discursive regimes that support its production, and demonstrate how the code/spaces of an air travel are simultaneously local and global and induce Castells' notions of ‘space of flows’ and ‘timeless time’.
Contrast Polarities Determine the Direction of Café Wall Tilts
Authors: Kitaoka Akiyoshi , Pinna Baingio , Brelstaff Gavin
Published: March 2004

We propose an explanatory approach to Café Wall type illusions that is simple yet fairly comprehensive. These illusions are constructed out of basic elementary units in a jigsaw-like manner. Each unit, in general, contains both a solid body and a thin tail: the contrast polarity between the two determines the direction of the contributory illusory tilt produced by that element—according to a heuristic rule illustrated in figure 1. Ensembles of these elements exhibit illusory tilts only when the tails of the elements align along a common line in an additive manner. When elements of opposing polarity alternate, the illusion is cancelled. This approach extends and supersedes those presented in Pinna's illusion of angularity and Kitaoka's ‘acute’ corner effect. Furthermore, it appears to be, in part, compatible with existing mechanisms proposed to account for the emergence of local tilt cues, and it suggests several novel variations on the Café Wall theme.
What Happens Next? The Predictability of Natural Behaviour Viewed through CCTV Cameras
Authors: Troscianko Tom , Holmes Alison , Stillman Jennifer , Mirmehdi Majid , Wright Daniel , Wilson Anna
Published: March 2004

Can potentially antisocial or criminal behaviour be predicted? Our study aimed to ascertain (a) whether observers can successfully predict the onset of such behaviour when viewing real recordings from CCTV; (b) where, in the sequence of events, it is possible to make this prediction; and (c) whether there may be a difference between naïve and professional observers. We used 100 sample scenes from UK urban locations. Of these, 18 led to criminal behaviour (fights or vandalism). A further 18 scenes were matched as closely as possible to the crime examples, but did not lead to any crime, and 64 were neutral scenes chosen from a wide variety of noncriminal situations. A signal-detection paradigm was used in conjunction with a 6-point rating scale. Data from fifty naïve and fifty professional observers suggest that (a) observers can distinguish crime sequences from neutral sequences and from matches; (b) there are key types of behaviour (particularly gestures and body position) that allow predictions to be made; (c) the performance of naïve observers is comparable to that of experts. However, because the experts were predominantly male, the absence of an effect of experience may have been due to gender differences, which were investigated in a subsidiary experiment. The results of experiment 2 leave open the possibility that females perform better than males at such tasks.
Spatial Reference and Scanning with the Left and Right Hand
Authors: Millar Susanna , Al-Attar Zainab
Published: March 2004

Discrepant findings on performance by the two hands in spatial tasks make it difficult to infer spatial coding unambiguously. We tested the hypotheses (a) that the left hand is consistently better in haptic spatial tasks and (b) that adding spatial reference information produces more accurate coding in spatial tasks, independently task and hand effects. Instructions to use external cues from a surrounding frame as well as body-centred cues for reference produced highly significant increases in accuracy in haptic distance and location experiments. The distance experiments showed no hand differences. A small right-hand advantage with longer positioning movements in the recall of locations was significant when combined with left-hand scanning of the frame, but did not relate to reference conditions. Hand use interacted significantly with the location-versus-distance experiments, but showed no interaction with the spatial reference factor, which was highly significant in both experiments. The finding suggests that modes of coding need to be distinguished from cross-lateral effects of sensory input conditions. The study shows that varying reference information offers a potentially useful behavioural tool for distinguishing spatial coding from input and task conditions independently of hand performance. Methodological, practical, and theoretical implications are discussed.
Judging Distance across Texture Discontinuities
Authors: Feria Cary S , Braunstein Myron L , Andersen George J
Published: March 2004

Sinai et al (1998 Nature395 497–500) showed that less distance is perceived along a ground surface that spans two differently textured regions than along a surface that is uniformly textured. We examined the effect of texture continuity on judged distance using computer-generated displays of simulated surfaces in five experiments. Discontinuities were produced by using different textures, the same texture reversed in contrast, or the same texture shifted horizontally. The simulated surface was either a ground plane or a frontoparallel plane. For all textures and both orientations, less distance was judged in the discontinuous conditions than in continuous conditions. We propose that when a surface contains a texture discontinuity, a small area adjacent to the perceived boundary is excluded from judged distances.
Early Computation of Contour Curvature and Part Structure: Evidence from Holes
Authors: Bertamini Marco , Mosca Fauzia
Published: March 2004

We used holes to study unilateral border ownership and in particular the information carried by the sign of the curvature along the contour (ie the difference between convex and concave regions). When people perceive a hole, its shape has a reversed curvature polarity (ie a changed sign of curvature) compared to the same region perceived as an object. Bertamini (2001 Perception30 1295–1310), and Bertamini and Croucher (2003 Cognition87 33–54) suggested and found evidence to support the hypothesis that, because convex regions are perceived as parts, positional information is more readily available for convex regions. Therefore a change is predicted when a given region is perceived as either a hole or a figure. We confirm that finding in this study, using holes defined by binocular disparity. We conclude that a change from figure to hole always reverses the encoding of curvature polarity. In turn, polarity obligatorily affects perceived part structure and the processing of position.
Interactions between View Changes and Shape Changes in Picture–Picture Matching
Authors: Lawson Rebecca , Bülthoff Heinrich H , Dumbell Sarah
Published: March 2004

Four experiments are reported in which pictures of different morphs of novel, complex, 3-D objects, similar to objects which we must identify in the real world, were presented. We investigated how changes of viewpoint influence our ability to discriminate between morphs. View changes had a powerful effect on performance in picture–picture matching tasks when similarly shaped morphs had to be discriminated. Shape changes were detected faster and more accurately when morphs were depicted from the same rather than different views. In contrast, view change had no effect when dissimilarly shaped morphs had to be discriminated. This interaction between the effects of view change and shape change was found both for simultaneous stimulus presentation and for sequential presentation with interstimulus intervals up to 3600 ms. The interaction was found after repeated presentations of the stimuli before the matching task and after practice at the matching task as well as after no such pre-exposure to the stimuli or to the task. The results demonstrate the difficulty in activating abstract, view-insensitive representations to help to achieve object constancy, even when matching over long interstimulus intervals or after stimuli have already been seen many times.
Is There a Pop-Out of Exclusively Binocular (Cyclopean) Contours and Regions?
Authors: Petrov Yury
Published: March 2004

In this work, contours and texture regions were designed so that they could not be observed by either eye alone, but only after images from both eyes were fused into a single stereoscopic picture. Two planes of random dots were positioned one in front of the other so that their random-dot patterns were transparently overlaid. In this way the dot pattern in the front plane was completely masked by the dots in the back plane for either eye on its own. Such exclusively binocular or ‘cyclopean’ stimuli are therefore defined by a conjunction of depth information with other basic visual features. It is shown that, unlike their monocular counterparts, cyclopean contours do not pop-out. It is also shown that cyclopean regions pop-out only when they have either much higher or much lower luminance contrast than their surroundings, or (for some observers) when the cyclopean region is defined by motion contrast. Colour, luminance-contrast sign, and orientation-defined regions are not easily detected even when viewed attentively.
Effects of 3-D Complexity on the Perception of 2-D Depictions of Objects
Authors: Phillips Flip , Thompson Colin H , Voshell Martin G
Published: March 2004

In a recent study, Pelli (1999 Science285 844–846) performed a set of perceptual experiments using portrait paintings by Chuck Close. Close's work is similar to the ‘Lincoln’ portraits of Harmon and Julesz (1973 Science180 1194–1197) in that they are composite images consisting of coarsely sampled, individually painted, mostly homogeneous cells. Pelli showed that perceived shape was dependent on size, refuting findings that perception of this type is scale-invariant. In an attempt to broaden this finding we designed a series of experiments to investigate the interaction of 2-D scale and 3-D structure on our perception of 3-D shape. We present a series of experiments where field of view, 3-D object complexity, 2-D image resolution, viewing orientation, and subject matter of the stimulus are manipulated. On each trial, observers indicated if the depicted objects appeared to be 2-D or 3-D. Results for face stimuli are similar to Pelli's, while more geometrically complex stimuli show a further interaction of the 3-D information with distance and image information. Complex objects need more image information to be seen as 3-D when close; however, as they are moved further away from the observer, there is a bias for seeing them as 3-D objects rather than 2-D images. Finally, image orientation, relative to the observer, shows little effect, suggesting the participation of higher-level processes in the determination of the ‘solidness’ of the depicted object. Thus, we show that the critical image resolution depends systematically on the geometric complexity of the object depicted.
Size Perception is Less Context-Sensitive in Males
Authors: Phillips William A , Chapman Katie L S , Berry P Daniel
Published: March 2004

Context sensitivity of size perception has previously been used to study individual differences related to the distinction between local, analytic, or field-independent and global, holistic, or field-dependent perceptual styles. For example, it has been used in several recent studies of autistic spectrum disorders, which may involve an excessive bias toward local processing. Autism is much more common in males, and there is evidence that this may be in part because males in general tend to be less context-sensitive than females, and thus are more affected by conditions that further reduce context sensitivity. There is also evidence that a bias to local processing is more common in professions that require attention to detail. Context sensitivity of size perception was therefore studied as a function of sex and academic discipline in sixty-four university staff and students by a simple, sensitive, and specific psychophysical measure based on the Ebbinghaus illusion. The results show that in this task males are on average less context-sensitive than females, that the overlap is large, and that subjects with very high or very low context sensitivity tend to have the sex and profession predicted by the above hypotheses.
The Contributions of Static Visual Cues, Nonvisual Cues, and Optic Flow in Distance Estimation
Authors: Sun Hong-Jin , Campos Jennifer L , Young Meredith , Chan George S W , Ellard Colin G
Published: March 2004

By systematically varying cue availability in the stimulus and response phases of a series of same-modality and cross-modality distance matching tasks, we examined the contributions of static visual information, idiothetic information, and optic flow information. The experiment was conducted in a large-scale, open, outdoor environment. Subjects were presented with information about a distance and were then required to turn 180° before producing a distance estimate. Distance encoding and responding occurred via: (i) visually perceived target distance, or (ii) traversed distance through either blindfolded locomotion or during sighted locomotion. The results demonstrated that subjects performed with similar accuracy across all conditions. In conditions in which the stimulus and the response were delivered in the same mode, when visual information was absent, constant error was minimal; whereas, when visual information was present, overestimation was observed. In conditions in which the stimulus and response modes differed, a consistent error pattern was observed. By systematically comparing complementary conditions, we found that the availability of visual information during locomotion (particularly optic flow) led to an ‘under-perception’ of movement relative to conditions in which visual information was absent during locomotion.
Does maternal nutrition in pregnancy and birth weight influence levels of CHD risk factors in adult life?
Authors: Huxley Rachel R. , Neil H. Andrew W.
Published: March 2004

The fetal-origins hypothesis suggests that maternal and fetal nutrition can have a profound and sustained impact on the health of the offspring in adult life. Although there is abundant literature reporting on the associations between birth weight and disease risk factors, only a handful of studies have been able to examine the relationship between maternal nutrition in pregnancy with the health of offspring in adult life directly. Between 1942 and 1944, nearly 400 pregnant women were recruited into a dietary study to determine whether the wartime dietary rations were sufficient to prevent nutritional deficiencies. Detailed biochemical and clinical assessments were conducted for each of the women, who were followed-up until after delivery. More than 50 years later, approximately one-quarter of the adult offspring were recruited into a study to explore the possible impact of maternal nutrition in pregnancy on CHD risk factors, including glucose tolerance, blood pressure and components of the lipid profile. Results from the present study provide no evidence to support the hypothesis that birth weight or maternal nutrition in pregnancy are associated with CHD risk factors in adult life.
Hyperlipidaemic effect of fish oil in Bio F1B hamsters
Authors: de Silva Pujitha P. , Davis Phillip J. , Cheema Sukhinder Kaur
Published: March 2004

We investigated the dietary influence of low and high levels of fish oil, supplemented with or without dietary cholesterol, on the plasma lipoprotein profile in Bio F1B hamsters, a model susceptible to diet-induced hyperlipidaemia. The MIX diet, a diet supplemented with a mixture of lard and safflower-seed oil, was used as the control diet to maintain the saturated MUFA and PUFA levels similar to the fish-oil diet. The animals were fed the specific diets for 2 weeks and fasted for 14h before killing. The plasma from the animals fed high levels of fish oil was milky and rich in chylomicron-like particles. The plasma total cholesterol, VLDL- and LDL-cholesterol and -triacylglycerol concentrations were significantly higher, whereas HDL-cholesterol was lower in hamsters fed fish oil compared with the MIX-diet-fed hamsters. Increasing the amount of fat in the diet increased plasma lipids in both the fish-oil- and the MIX-diet-fed hamsters; however, this hyperlipidaemic effect of dietary fat level was greater in the hamsters fed the fish-oil diet. The hepatic lipid concentrations were not dramatically different between the fish-oil-fed and the MIX-diet-fed hamsters. However, the hepatic LDL-receptor mRNA levels were significantly low in the fish-oil-fed hamsters compared with the MIX-diet-fed hamsters. Increasing the amount of fish oil in the diet further decreased the hepatic LDL-receptor mRNA expression. It is concluded that F1B hamsters are susceptible to fish-oil-induced hyperlipidaemia, especially at high fat levels, and this increase is partially explained by the inhibition of hepatic LDL-receptor mRNA expression.
Plasma and urinary phyto-oestrogens as biomarkers of intake: validation by duplicate diet analysis
Authors: Ritchie Margaret R. , Morton Michael S. , Deighton Nigel , Blake Alison , Cummings John H.
Published: March 2004

Estimating intake of phyto-oestrogens (PO) is difficult because there is inadequate information on the PO content of foods. Development of a biomarker of intake is therefore necessary for carrying out epidemiological studies. We aimed to validate a newly constructed PO database, containing more than 600 values assigned to foods by using duplicate diet analysis, and to investigate the relationships between measured PO intake, urinary excretion and plasma concentrations of PO. Fourteen subjects with estimated dietary intakes of PO ranging from 0 to 44mg/d, measured by 7d weighed intake, completed a duplicate diet collection over 24h. Concurrently, a 24h urine collection, validated using p-aminobenzoic acid, was obtained and one timed spot plasma sample taken. Duplicate diets, complete urine collections and plasma samples were analysed for total genistein and daidzein using liquid chromatography–MS to determine PO intake. The potential for 24h urinary excretion and plasma PO concentrations to reflect dietary intake was investigated. Mean estimated and measured dietary PO intakes were 12·3 and 11·0mg/d respectively. The correlation between estimated intake and measured intake of PO was highly significant (r 0·98, P<0·001). Urinary excretion (24h) and plasma concentrations of PO were significantly related to measured dietary PO intake (r 0·97, P<0·001 and r 0·92, P<0·001 respectively). The relationship between 24h urinary PO excretion and timed plasma concentrations was also significant (r 0·99, P<0·001). These findings validate the PO database and indicate that 24h urinary excretion and timed plasma concentrations can be used as biomarkers of PO intake.
Prandial subcutaneous injections of glucagon-like peptide-1 cause weight loss in obese human subjects
Authors: Näslund Erik , King N. , Mansten S. , Adner N. , Holst J. J. , Gutniak M. , Hellström P. M.
Published: March 2004

Recombinant glucagon-like peptide-1 (7–36)amide (rGLP-1) was recently shown to cause significant weight loss in type 2 diabetics when administered for 6 weeks as a continuous subcutaneous infusion. The mechanisms responsible for the weight loss are not clarified. In the present study, rGLP-1 was given for 5d by prandial subcutaneous injections (PSI) (76nmol 30min before meals, four times daily; a total of 302·4nmol/24h) or by continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSI) (12·7nmol/h; a total of 304·8nmol/24h). This was performed in nineteen healthy obese subjects (mean age 44·2 (sem 2·5) years; BMI 39·0 (sem 1·2)kg/m2) in a prospective randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Compared with the placebo, rGLP-1 administered as PSI and by CSI generated a 15% reduction in mean food intake per meal (P=0·02) after 5d treatment. A weight loss of 0·55 (sem 0·2) kg (P<0·05) was registered after 5d with PSI of rGLP-1. Gastric emptying rate was reduced during both PSI (P<0·001) and CSI (P<0·05) treatment, but more rapidly and to a greater extent with PSI of rGLP-1. To conclude, a 5d treatment of rGLP-1 at high doses by PSI, but not CSI, promptly slowed gastric emptying as a probable mechanism of action of increased satiety, decreased hunger and, hence, reduced food intake with an ensuing weight loss.
Reproductive potential of male Portan rats exposed to various levels of lead with regard to zinc status
Authors: Batra N. , Nehru B. , Bansal M. P.
Published: March 2004

The present study was designed to elucidate the mechanisms accounting for disruption of the normal function of the testis exposed to various levels of Pb. Three different doses of Pb (10, 50, 200mg Pb/kg body weight per d) were given orally to male Portan rats (groups 2, 3, 4). Zn (1mg Zn/kg body weight per d) was also given with Pb (50mg Pb/kg body weight per d) in group 5. Treatments continued for 3 months. Plasma luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations were found to be decreased in Pb-exposed rats. This was in turn reflected in the appreciable decline in fertility status. In cell kinetic studies, significant declines in various cell populations (preleptotene, pachytene, young (step 7) spermatids and mature (step 19) spermatids) were seen. However, in group 5 after Zn supplementation, hormone levels, cell numbers and fertility status were found to be close to normal. It is concluded that Pb might act at maturation level to cause conspicuous degenerative changes in the testis; Zn supplementation protected against these effects.
Species differences in the physiological activity of dietary lignan (sesamin and episesamin) in affecting hepatic fatty acid metabolism
Authors: Kushiro Masayo , Takahashi Yoko , Ide Takashi
Published: March 2004

The effect of sesame (Sesamum orientale) lignan preparation containing equivalent amounts of sesamin and episesamin on hepatic fatty acid metabolism was compared in rats, mice and hamsters. Animals were fed on either a diet free of lignan or a diet containing 2glignan/kg for 15d. The lignan preparation greatly increased hepatic activity and the mRNA levels of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation, while it strongly down-regulated those of enzymes involved in lipogenesis in rats. In contrast, lignan did not modify these variables in mice and hamsters. Changes observed, if any, were more attenuated in these mice and hamsters than in rats. Sesamin and episesamin concentrations in serum and liver of animals fed on lignan-containing diets were significantly greater (P<0·05) in rats than in mice and hamsters. Moreover, sesamin:episesamin values in tissues were far from that expected from the value in the lignan preparation given to the animals and were dependent on the animal species. Liver microsomes from each animal species degraded sesamin and episesamin in the presence of NADPH. The combined value of sesamin and episesamin degradation rates was lower in rats than in mice and hamsters. In addition, there was considerable diversity in the specificity of the enzyme reaction toward sesamin and episesamin among animal species. The differences in the amounts of lignan remaining in the tissues may account for the species dependence of the physiological activity of sesame lignan in affecting hepatic fatty acid oxidation and synthesis.
The influence of undernutrition during gestation on skeletal muscle cellularity and on the expression of genes that control muscle growth
Authors: Bayol Stéphanie , Jones Doiran , Goldspink Geoffrey , Stickland Neil C.
Published: March 2004

We examined the effects of two levels of gestational undernutrition (50% and 40% ofad libitum) on postnatal growth rate, skeletal muscle cellularity and the expression of genes that control muscle growth, in the offspring at weaning. The results showed that the rat pups born to mothers fed the 50% diet during gestation and a control diet during lactation had an increased postnatal growth rate compared with the pups fed the more restricted diet (40% ofad libitum). Surprisingly, the growth rate of the control group (ad libitum) was intermediate between the 50% and 40% groups. The restricted diets did not alter the number of muscle fibres in the semitendinosus muscle of the offspring but the number of muscle nuclei was reduced by 16% in the 40% group compared with the control group. In the 50% group, the lightest pups at birth (L) had elevated muscle insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF binding protein (BP)-5 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) mRNA compared with the L pups from both the control and 40% groups. The heaviest pups at birth (H) in the 50% group had increased levels of IGFBP-4, PCNA and M-cadherin mRNA compared with both the control and 40% groups. Levels of IGF-1 receptor, myostatin and MyoD mRNA did not correlate with postnatal growth. Both H and L pups from the 40% group had reduced muscle IGF-1 mRNA but all other transcripts examined were similar to control levels. The results suggest that the increased postnatal growth rate, which accompanied milder fetal undernutrition (50%), may be due to a more active local muscle IGF system and increased muscle-cell proliferation.
Intra-individual variation in RMR in older people
Authors: Gibbons Megan R. D. , Henry C. Jeya K. , Ulijaszek Stanley J. , Lightowler Helen J.
Published: March 2004

In the factorial estimation of total energy expenditure it is assumed that the intra-individual variation in RMR is small. Little is known about the intra-individual variation in RMR in older subjects. The present study investigated the intra-individual variation in RMR in older people. Measurements of RMR were made in twenty-seven older subjects, mean age 71·6 (sd 6·1) years, on two separate occasions (T1 and T2) and on a third occasion (T3) in nineteen of the subjects. Measurements of height and weight were taken in all subjects. RMR measurements were made in the laboratory using a Deltatrac™ (ventilated-hood indirect calorimeter; Datex, Helsinki, Finland). All subjects had fasted overnight for 12h and refrained from strenuous exercise before measurements. The intra-individual CV in RMR (kJ/d) after T1 and T2 was 2·5% in women and 3·6% in men and was 2·6% in women and 3·4% in men after all three sets of measurements. Although mean RMR did not vary across T1, T2 and T3, there was significant ‘crossing tracks’ across the three measurement occasions in some individuals, reflecting a high degree of within-subject variability. The methods used had a significant measurement error associated with them (high R value; significant F ratio in three-way ANOVA). In conclusion, the results from the present study indicate that intra-individual variation in RMR was low in older people. The intra-individual variation in the elderly is similar to that seen in younger age groups.
Isolated soya protein with standardised levels of isoflavones, cotyledon soya fibres and soya phospholipids improves plasma lipids in hypercholesterolaemia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a yoghurt formulation
Authors: Puska Pekka , Korpelainen Vesa , Høie Lars H. , Skovlund Eva , Smerud Knut T.
Published: March 2004

The objective was to study whether a yoghurt containing isolated soya protein with standardised levels of isoflavones, cotyledon soya fibres and soya phospholipids is more effective in lowering total and LDL-cholesterol than a placebo. One hundred and forty-three subjects were randomised to the soya group (n69) or to the placebo (n74). The mean baseline levels were 7·6 and 5·1mmol/l for total and LDL-cholesterol, respectively. Fasting serum lipoproteins were assessed five times during the 8-week intervention period, and 4 weeks thereafter. The results were analysed by a mixed model for unbalanced repeated measurements. During the intervention, there were highly significant differences in lipid-lowering effect in favour of the active soya intervention group compared with the control group. The significant differences were for total cholesterol (estimated mean difference 0·40mmol/l;P<0·001), LDL-cholesterol (0·39mmol/l;P<0·001), non-HDL-cholesterol (0·40mmol/l;P<0·001) and for the total:HDL-cholesterol ratio (0·23;P=0·005). There was no difference in the effects on HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols or homocysteine. The lipid-lowering effect occurred within 1–2 weeks of intervention, and was not due to weight loss. The safety profile for active soya was similar to the placebo group, except for gastrointestinal symptoms, which caused a significantly higher dropout rate (fourteenv. three subjects) among the subjects taking active soya.
The silicon content of beer and its bioavailability in healthy volunteers
Authors: Sripanyakorn Supannee , Jugdaohsingh Ravin , Elliott Hazel , Walker Caroline , Mehta Payal , Shoukru Sera , Thompson Richard P. H. , Powell Jonathan J.
Published: March 2004

Dietary Si, as soluble orthosilicic acid (OSA), may be important for the growth and development of bone and connective tissue. Beer appears to be a major contributor to Si intake, although the Si content of beer and its bioavailability in human subjects have not been well established. Here we investigated the Si content of different beers and then estimated Si absorption from beer in healthy volunteers. The Si content of seventy-six different beers was estimated using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and one of the beers, used in the ingestion study, was ultrafiltered to determine OSA content. Next, following the ingestion of 0·6 litres beer (22·5mg Si; 4·6% (v/v) ethanol), serum and urinary Si levels were measured in nine healthy volunteers over a 6h period. A solution of OSA was similarly investigated as a positive control and water and 4·6% ethanol as negative controls. The mean Si level of beer was 19·2 (SD 6·6) mg/l; the median Si level was 18·0mg/l. There was no significant difference in the Si levels of the different beers by geographical origin or type of beer. Serum and urinary Si levels increased considerably following the ingestion of beer or a solution of OSA but not with the ingestion of either 4·6% ethanol or water. The ultrafilterability of Si from beer (about 80%) and its absorption in volunteers (about 55%) was comparable with that of a solution of OSA suggesting that Si in beer is present chiefly in a monomeric form and is readily bioavailable.
High leptin in pregnant mink (Mustela vison) may exert anorexigenic effects: a permissive factor for rapid increase in food intake during lactation
Authors: Tauson Anne-Helene , Forsberg Mats , Chwalibog André
Published: March 2004

The role for leptin in food intake regulation in the mink, a polytocous seasonal breeder with altricial young, was investigated in pregnant and lactating dams and data were related to quantitative energy metabolism measurements and plasma concentrations of other important metabolic hormones. A total of nine mink dams were measured in consecutive 1-week balance periods, each including a 22h measurement of heat production by means of indirect calorimetry, and blood was sampled at weekly intervals throughout gestation and during lactation weeks 1–4. Intake of metabolisable energy (ME) was high and energy balance was positive until the first third of true gestation. During mid- and late gestation ME intake decreased (P<0·001) while heat production remained almost constant, resulting in negative energy balance and the loss of body weight. From late gestation until lactation week 4, ME intake increased by 3·5 times, but weight loss continued. Plasma concentrations of leptin were approximately doubled during the last two-thirds of true gestation (P<0·01), demonstrating a clear gestational hyperleptinaemia. Concentrations declined rapidly after parturition and then remained stable. Insulin was independent of leptin, with low concentrations coincident with hyperleptinaemia. Also, concentrations of thyroid hormones declined during gestation, probably reflecting the low food intake. Hyperleptinaemia concomitant with low ME intake, negative energy balance and mobilisation of body reserves suggested an anorexigenic effect of leptin in pregnant mink. This suppression of food intake in late gestation might be permissive for the rapid increase in food intake occurring after parturition.
Lowering dietary phosphorus concentrations reduces kidney calcification, but does not adversely affect growth, mineral metabolism, and bone development in growing rabbits
Authors: Ritskes-Hoitinga J. , Grooten H. N. A. , Wienk K. J. H. , Peters M. , Lemmens A. G. , Beynen A. C.
Published: March 2004

New Zealand White rabbits were used to investigate the influence of increasing dietary P concentrations on growth performance, mineral balance, kidney calcification and bone development. The minimum dietary P requirement of 0·22% (National Research Council) is usually exceeded in commercial natural-ingredient chows, leading to undesirable kidney calcifications. In order to study the optimal dietary P level, rabbits were fed semi-purified diets with four different P levels (0·1, 0·2, 0·4, and 0·8%; w/w) at a constant dietary Ca concentration (0·5%) during an 8-week period. Body weight and growth were not influenced by the dietary P level. During two periods (days 20–23 and 48–51), faeces and urine were collected quantitatively for the analysis of Ca, Mg and P and balances were calculated. Increased dietary P intake caused increased urinary and faecal P excretion and P apparent absorption and retention. Faecal Ca excretion increased with higher dietary P levels, whereas urinary Ca excretion reacted inversely. The apparent absorption of Ca became reduced at higher dietary P concentrations, but Ca retention was unchanged. The response of Mg was in a similar direction to that of the Ca balance. Kidney mineral content increased with higher dietary P levels, indicating the presence of calcified deposits. Nephrocalcinosis became more severe in kidney cortex and medulla at increasing dietary P levels, as was confirmed by histological analysis. Femur bone length was not differentially influenced by dietary P. Bone density (g/cm3) of the femur diaphysis became significantly lower at the 0·8% dietary P level as compared with the 0·2% P group only. The bone Mg content was significantly increased on the 0·8% P diet, both in the diaphysis and epiphysis. Plasma P concentration increased and plasma Ca decreased with higher dietary P levels, whereas plasma Mg levels were unaffected. The present study shows that the current recommended minimum dietary P level of 0·2% for rabbits, as advised by the National Research Council in 1977, leads to a normal growth and bone development, but also causes some degree of kidney calcifications at a dietary Ca level of 0·5%. As the dietary P level of 0·1% virtually prevented kidney calcification and at the same time did not give evidence for any deleterious effects on growth and bone development, this indicates that the current recommended dietary P level for rabbits should be regarded as a maximum advisable concentration, and that a lower P level may be more optimal.
Can nutrition counselling be more behavioural? Lessons learned from dietary management of cystic fibrosis
Authors: Stark Lori J.
Published: March 2004

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetically-inherited disorder that results in energy imbalance. Undernutrition is common in children with CF and associated with poor health outcomes. To ensure optimal growth and nutrition, children with CF are recommended to consume 120–150% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for energy, but most studies show they typically are only able to achieve 100% of the RDA. While biological factors clearly contribute to poor dietary adherence, recent studies have documented behavioural and environmental barriers to adherence that includes parent-child interaction at mealtimes. While not ‘abnormal’, parent behaviours such as paying increased attention to the child in the form of coaxing, commanding and feeding when the child is engaged in behaviours incompatible with eating (food refusal, talking, leaving the meal) may serve to reinforce these child non-eating behaviours. Thus, dietary counselling alone, albeit necessary, is typically insufficient because of failure to specifically address these behavioural and environmental barriers to dietary treatment. Behavioural intervention that targets both nutrition education and behavioural management has been found to be effective in achieving an average increased energy intake of 4200 kJ (1000)kcal/d and weight gain of 1·48 kg over 9 weeks in children with CF. This intervention utilizes self-monitoring, goal setting and shaping to structure the delivery of treatment. It also teaches parents to utilize child behaviour-management techniques to motivate children to increase their energy intake. These behavioural strategies include differential attention (praising and ignoring), contingency management and behavioural contracting. The potential application of these techniques to dietary counselling is suggested.
Oral protein–energy supplements for children with chronic disease:systematic review
Authors: Poustie Vanessa J. , Watling Ruth M. , Smyth Rosalind L.
Published: March 2004

Growth failure and poor nutritional status are features of children with chronic disease. Oral protein–energy supplements are one of a number of interventions provided with the aim of improving nutritional status in these children. The present paper describes a Cochrane systematic review assessing the efficacy of these products in children with chronic disease. The objective was to examine the evidence that in children with chronic disease oral protein–energy supplements alter nutrient intake, nutritional indices, survival and quality of life. All randomised controlled trials of the use of oral protein–energy supplements in children with chronic disease were identified through searching electronic databases and hand searching the abstract books of nutrition conferences. Studies identified were independently assessed for eligibility and methodological quality, and data on outcomes of interest were combined in a meta-analysis where possible. Two trials were eligible for inclusion in the review, both of which were undertaken with children with cystic fibrosis. No statistical differences could be found between treatment and control groups when data from both studies were combined. Oral protein–energy supplements are widely used to improve the nutritional status of children with chronic disease. No conclusions can be drawn on the efficacy of these products based on the limited data available. Further randomised controlled trials are required to investigate the use of these products in children with chronic disease. Until further data are available, these products should be used with caution.
Changing perspectives in the nutritional management of disease
Authors: Madden Angela M.
Published: March 2004

There have been substantial changes in the nutritional management of many diseases in the last 20 years, which have been accompanied by a growing recognition of its importance. Many of the changes in clinical nutrition have been associated with the introduction of standards, clinical audit and the implementation of evidence-based practice, which has led to a re-evaluation of some established dietary interventions using a hierarchy-of-evidence approach. Although there are few randomised controlled trials on which to base such work, the examination of other, often less-robust, evidence has led to some traditional dietary interventions being modified. Examples in gastroenterology include the use of low-fat diets in gall bladder disease and the restriction of protein in hepatic encephalopathy, where the current evidence suggests that neither should be used routinely in clinical practice. Where therapeutic dietary restrictions are required, as with low-Na diets in ascites, there is very little information on how these restrictions influence total nutrient intake and, if intake is impaired, how the detrimental effects of an inadequate intake should be balanced with the therapeutic effects of restriction. Studies are required to ensure that nutritional interventions are not only effective but also free from undesirable side effects. The mode and timing of the delivery of nutritional support has also been re-evaluated and the benefits of early enteral feeding have been recognised. The delivery of dietary advice is a new area that is being considered, with practitioners in clinical nutrition using behaviour-change skills to facilitate optimum nutrition rather than simply providing patients with advice. For such developments to continue in clinical nutrition it is essential that all practice should be systematically evaluated and, where necessary, modified in the light of sound current research findings, and that gaps in our present knowledge base are identified and addressed.
Geographical differences in vitamin D status, with particular reference to European countries
Authors: Ovesen Lars , Andersen Rikke , Jakobsen Jette
Published: March 2004

Vitamin D is produced endogenously when the skin is exposed to sunlight and can be obtained exogenously from a few natural food sources, from food fortification and from supplements. Generally, vitamin D intake is low ≤2–3 μg/d in Europe. Casual exposure to sunlight is thought to provide most of the vitamin D requirement of the human population. However, skin synthesis of vitamin D may not compensate for the low nutritional intake in Europe, even in countries with high supplies from food fortification and supplements. For assessment of vitamin D nutritional status the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in serum is considered to be an accurate integrative measure reflecting an individual's dietary intake and cutaneous production. A substantial percentage of the elderly and adolescents in Europe have a low concentration of 25(OH)D; in the elderly this percentage ranges from approximately 10 in the Nordic countries to approximately 40 in France. Low vitamin D status seems to be aggravated by disease and immobility, and by a low frequency of supplement use.
Vitamin D and bone health in early life
Authors: Mølgaard Christian , Fleischer Michaelsen Kim
Published: March 2004

Prolonged vitamin D deficiency resulting in rickets is seen mainly during rapid growth. A distinct age distribution has been observed in the Copenhagen area where all registered hospital cases of rickets were either infants and toddlers or adolescents from immigrant families. Growth retardation was only present in the infant and toddler group. A state of deficiency occurs months before rickets is obvious on physical examination. Growth failure, lethargy and irritability may be early signs of vitamin D deficiency. Mothers with low vitamin D status give birth to children with low vitamin D status and increased risk of rickets. Reports showing increasing rates of rickets due to insufficient sunlight exposure and inadequate vitamin D intake are cause for serious concern. Many countries (including the USA from 2003) recommend vitamin D supplementation during infancy to avoid rickets resulting from the low vitamin D content of human milk. Without fortification only certain foods such as fatty fish contain more than low amounts of vitamin D, and many children will depend entirely on sun exposure to obtain sufficient vitamin D. The skin has a high capacity to synthesize vitamin D, but if sun exposure is low vitamin D production is insufficient, especially in dark-skinned infants. The use of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D to evaluate vitamin D status before development of rickets would be helpful; however, there is no agreement on cut-off levels for deficiency and insufficiency. Furthermore, it is not known how marginal vitamin D insufficiency affects children's bones in the long term.