bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
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.
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

AbstractObjectives: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

AbstractObjectives: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.
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

AbstractObjective: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

AbstractInverse 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

AbstractRat 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.
Aberrant signaling pathways of the lung mesenchyme and their contributions to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Authors: Ahlfeld Shawn K. , Conway Simon J. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease in infants born extremely preterm, typically before 28 weeks' gestation, characterized by a prolonged need for supplemental oxygen or positive pressure ventilation beyond 36 weeks postmenstrual age. The limited number of autopsy samples available from infants with BPD in the postsurfactant era has revealed a reduced capacity for gas exchange resulting from simplification of the distal lung structure with fewer, larger alveoli because of a failure of normal lung alveolar septation and pulmonary microvascular development. The mechanisms responsible for alveolar simplification in BPD have not been fully elucidated, but mounting evidence suggests that aberrations in the cross‐talk between growth factors of the lung mesenchyme and distal airspace epithelium have a key role. Animal models that recapitulate the human condition have expanded our knowledge of the pathology of BPD and have identified candidate matrix components and growth factors in the developing lung that are disrupted by conditions that predispose infants to BPD and interfere with normal vascular and alveolar morphogenesis. This review focuses on the deviations from normal lung development that define the pathophysiology of BPD and summarizes the various candidate mesenchyme‐associated proteins and growth factors that have been identified as being disrupted in animal models of BPD. Finally, future areas of research to identify novel targets affected in arrested lung development and recovery are discussed. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Substrate perturbation alters the glycoside hydrolase activities and community composition of switchgrass‐adapted bacterial consortia
Authors: Gladden John M. , Eichorst Stephanie A. , Hazen Terry C. , Simmons Blake A. , Singer Steven W. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBacteria modulate glycoside hydrolase expression in response to the changes in the composition of lignocellulosic biomass. The response of switchgrass‐adapted thermophilic bacterial consortia to perturbation with a variety of biomass substrates was characterized to determine if bacterial consortia also responded to changes in biomass composition. Incubation of the switchgrass‐adapted consortia with these alternative substrates produced shifts in glycoside hydrolase activities and bacterial community composition. Substantially increased endoglucanase activity was observed upon incubation with microcrystalline cellulose and trifluororacetic acid‐pretreated switchgrass. In contrast, culturing the microbial consortia with ionic liquid‐pretreated switchgrass increased xylanase activity dramatically. Microbial community analyses of these cultures indicated that the increased endoglucanase activity correlated with an increase in bacteria related to Rhodothermus marinus. Inclusion of simple organic substrates in the culture medium abrogated glycoside hydrolase activity and enriched for bacteria related to Thermus thermophilus. These results demonstrate that the composition of biomass substrates influences the glycoside hydrolase activities and community composition of biomass‐deconstructing bacterial consortia. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:1140–1145. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Increased matrix synthesis by fibroblasts with decreased proliferation on synthetic chitosan–gelatin porous structures
Authors: Iyer Pooja , Walker Kenneth J. , Madihally Sundararajan V. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractInfluence of mechanical characteristics and matrix architecture of substrates used in cell culture is an important issue to tissue engineering. Chitosan‐based materials have been processed into porous structures, injectable gels and membranes, and are investigated to regenerate various tissues. However, the effect of these structures on cell growth and matrix production in accordance with each of the differing scaffolds has not been examined. We investigated the influence of porous structures, hydrogels, and membranes on the growth of normal human fibroblasts and their matrix production in a serum‐free system. We used chitosan alone and in combination with gelatin. Injectable hydrogels were prepared using 2‐glycerol phosphate. From the same solution, porous scaffolds and membranes were formed using controlled rate freezing and lyophilization, and air‐drying, respectively. Fibroblast growth was evaluated on the 4th and 10th days using flow cytometry and CFDA‐SE pre‐staining. Cell morphology was assessed using actin and nucleus staining. Total protein content, collagen, tropoelastin, and MMP2/MMP‐9 activity in the media supernatant were assessed by BCA, Sircol™, Fastin Elastin, and fluorogeneic peptide assays. Collagen accumulated in the matrix was assessed by Sircol™ assay after pepsin/acetic acid digestion and by Masson's Trichrome staining. These results showed increased viability of fibroblasts on chitosan–gelatin porous scaffold with decreased proliferation relative to tissue culture plastic (TCP) surface despite the cells showing spindle shape. The total protein, collagen, and tropoelastin contents were higher in the spent media from chitosan–gelatin porous scaffolds compared to other conditions. MMP2/MMP9 activity was comparable to TCP. An increase in collagen content was also observed in the matrix, suggesting increased matrix deposition. In summary, matrix production is influenced by the form of chitosan structures, which significantly affects the regenerative process. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:1314–1325. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Particle‐in‐Cell Simulation for the Effect of Segmented Electrodes Near the Exit of an Aton‐Type Hall Thruster on Ion Focusing Acceleration
Authors: Yu D. R. , Qing S. W. , Liu H. , Li H. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe effect of floating conductive electrodes near the channel exit of an Aton‐type Hall thruster on ion focusing acceleration is studied by simulating the two‐dimensional plasma flow with a fully kinetic Particle‐in‐Cell method for the gas flow rate ja ranged in 1∼3 mg/s. Numerical results show that low‐emissive electrodes can reduce plume divergence if the electrode length is less than 2 mm due to the low secondary electron emissive characteristic, but widen plume in all the gas flow rate range if the electrode length is greater than 2mm since the conductive property of segmented electrodes trends to make equipotential lines convex toward channel exit and is even parallel to the wall surface in the near‐wall region. Further investigation predicts that the combination of high emissive dielectric wall and segmented low‐emissive dielectric wall is a promising way to reduce plume divergence (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Clock gene variation in Tachycineta swallows
Authors: Dor Roi , Cooper Caren B. , Lovette Irby J. , Massoni Viviana , Bulit Flor , Liljesthrom Marcela , Winkler David W. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractMany animals use photoperiod cues to synchronize reproduction with environmental conditions and thereby improve their reproductive success. The circadian clock, which creates endogenous behavioral and physiological rhythms typically entrained to photoperiod, is well characterized at the molecular level. Recent work provided evidence for an association between Clock poly‐Q length polymorphism and latitude and, within a population, an association with the date of laying and the length of the incubation period. Despite relatively high overall breeding synchrony, the timing of clutch initiation has a large impact on the fitness of swallows in the genus Tachycineta. We compared length polymorphism in the Clock poly‐Q region among five populations from five different Tachycineta species that breed across a hemisphere‐wide latitudinal gradient (Fig. 1). Clock poly‐Q variation was not associated with latitude; however, there was an association between Clock poly‐Q allele diversity and the degree of clutch size decline within breeding seasons. We did not find evidence for an association between Clock poly‐Q variation and date of clutch initiation in for any of the five Tachycineta species, nor did we found a relationship between incubation duration and Clock genotype. Thus, there is no general association between latitude, breeding phenology, and Clock polymorphism in this clade of closely related birds.Photos of Tachycineta swallows that were used in this study: A) T. bicolor from Ithaca, New York, B) T. leucorrhoa from Chascomús, Argentina, C) T. albilinea from Hill Bank, Belize, D) T. meyeni from Puerto Varas, Chile, and E) T. thalassina from Mono Lake, California, Photographers: B: Valentina Ferretti; A, C‐E: David Winkler.image
Sexual selection on song and cuticular hydrocarbons in two distinct populations of Drosophila montana
Authors: Veltsos Paris , Wicker‐Thomas Claude , Butlin Roger K. , Hoikkala Anneli , Ritchie Michael G. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractSexual selection has the potential to contribute to population divergence and speciation. Most studies of sexual selection in Drosophila have concentrated on a single signaling modality, usually either courtship song or cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), which can act as contact pheromones. We have examined the relationship between both signal types and reproductive success using F1–3 offspring of wild‐collected flies, raised in the lab. We used two populations of the Holarctic species Drosophila montana that represent different phylogeographic clades that have been separate for ca. 0.5 million years (MY), and differ to some extent in both traits. Here, we characterize the nature and identify the targets of sexual selection on song, CHCs, and both traits combined within the populations. Three measures of courtship outcome were used as fitness proxies. They were the probability of mating, mating latency, and the production of rejection song by females, and showed patterns of association with different traits that included both linear and quadratic selection. Courtship song predicted courtship outcome better than CHCs and the signal modalities acted in an additive rather than synergistic manner. Selection was generally consistent in direction and strength between the two populations and favored males that sang more vigorously. Sexual selection differed in the extent, strength, and nature on some of the traits between populations. However, the differences in the directionality of selection detected were not a good predictor of population differences. In addition, a character previously shown to be important for species recognition, interpulse interval, was found to be under sexual selection. Our results highlight the complexity of understanding the relationship between within‐population sexual selection and population differences. Sexual selection alone cannot predict differences between populations.
Effect of land use and topography on spatial variability of soil moisture in a gully catchment of the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Huang Yilong , Chen Liding , Fu Bojie , Huang Zhilin , Gong Jie , Lu Xixi 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTThe Loess Plateau ecosystem in China is degraded owing to poor natural conditions and intense human activity. The intensity of soil erosion and deficit of soil moisture are the key factors that influence the ecological restoration and agricultural land productivity in this region. Analysis of the soil moisture dynamic and the relative importance of land use and topography for the spatial variability of soil moisture is the basis for guiding ecosystem restoration and agricultural development. We analysed the spatial variability of soil moisture for five land‐use types within 44 sample plots (176 sample points) at the five depths (0–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80 and 80–100 cm) in the Anjiagou catchment of the Loess Plateau from April to September 2002. The depth‐averaged soil moisture of cropland was the highest among the five land‐use types, followed by fallowland, woodland, shrubland and wasteland during high soil–water contents period (from 24 April to 23 June). The time‐averaged soil moisture of all the five land‐use types first decreased with depth during the wet moisture status and then increased with depth during the dry conditions (from 12 July to 9 August). The time‐averaged soil moisture of fallowland, cropland and shrubland was decreased with depth, but both wasteland and woodland was decreased and then increased with depth in the medium moisture status (from 23 August to 18 September). Land use was the key factor that influenced the spatial variability of the time‐averaged moisture of the four soil layers (20–40, 40–60, 60–80 and 80–100 cm) during the wet and medium soil–water content condition. Land use had a weak influence on the spatial variability of the time‐averaged moisture of all the five soil layers in the dry moisture status. Slope aspect had a significant influence on the time‐averaged soil moisture of some soil layers in the wet and medium moisture statuses for wasteland, shrubland, woodland and fallowland. The other four topographic factors (slope profile curvature, slope position, relative elevation and slope gradient) all had weak influence on the time‐averaged soil moisture of all the five land use types in the three water statuses. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.