Showing papers by "University of Western Australia published in 2003"
••
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the timing of mutations in BRAF during melanocytic neoplasia and found that mutations resulted in the V599E amino acid substitution in 41 of 60 (68%) melanoma metastases, 4 of 5 (80%) primary melanomas and, unexpectedly, in 63 of 77 (82%) nevi.
Abstract: To evaluate the timing of mutations in BRAF (v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1) during melanocytic neoplasia, we carried out mutation analysis on microdissected melanoma and nevi samples. We observed mutations resulting in the V599E amino-acid substitution in 41 of 60 (68%) melanoma metastases, 4 of 5 (80%) primary melanomas and, unexpectedly, in 63 of 77 (82%) nevi. These data suggest that mutational activation of the RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway in nevi is a critical step in the initiation of melanocytic neoplasia but alone is insufficient for melanoma tumorigenesis.
1,611 citations
••
TL;DR: Overall, the analyses point to several important sources of variation in δ15N enrichment and suggest that the most important of them are the main biochemical form of nitrogen excretion and nutritional status.
Abstract: Measurements of δ15N of consumers are usually higher than those of their diet. This general pattern is widely used to make inferences about trophic relationships in ecological studies, although the underlying mechanisms causing the pattern are poorly understood. However, there can be substantial variation in consumer-diet δ15N enrichment within this general pattern. We conducted an extensive literature review, which yielded 134 estimates from controlled studies of consumer-diet δ15N enrichment, to test the significance of several potential sources of variation by means of meta-analyses. We found patterns related to processes of nitrogen assimilation and excretion. There was a significant effect of the main biochemical form of nitrogenous waste: ammonotelic organisms show lower δ15N enrichment than ureotelic or uricotelic organisms. There were no significant differences between animals feeding on plant food, animal food, or manufactured mixtures, but detritivores yielded significantly lower estimates of enrichment. δ15N enrichment was found to increase significantly with the C:N ratio of the diet, suggesting that a nitrogen-poor diet can have an effect similar to that already documented for fasting organisms. There were also differences among taxonomic classes: molluscs and crustaceans generally yielded lower δ15N enrichment. The lower δ15N enrichment might be related to the fact that molluscs and crustaceans excrete mainly ammonia, or to the fact that many were detritivores. Organisms inhabiting marine environments yielded significantly lower estimates of δ15N enrichment than organisms inhabiting terrestrial or freshwater environments, a pattern that was influenced by the number of marine, ammonotelic, crustaceans and molluscs. Overall, our analyses point to several important sources of variation in δ15N enrichment and suggest that the most important of them are the main biochemical form of nitrogen excretion and nutritional status. The variance of estimates of δ15N enrichment, as well as the fact that enrichment may be different in certain groups of organisms should be taken into account in statistical approaches for studying diet and trophic relationships.
1,465 citations
••
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland1, Cardiovascular Institute of the South2, University of Western Australia3, Joseph Fourier University4, University of Bonn5, University of Toronto6, Western General Hospital7, University of Padua8, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai9, University of Valencia10, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven11, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens12
TL;DR: In this paper, the accuracy of the conventional Riva-Rocci/Korotkoff technique of blood pressure measurement has been questioned and efforts have been made to improve the technique with automated devices.
Abstract: IntroductionOver the past 20 years or so, the accuracy of the conventional Riva-Rocci/Korotkoff technique of blood pressure measurement has been questioned and efforts have been made to improve the technique with automated devices. In the same period, recognition of the phenomenon of white-coat hype
1,462 citations
••
TL;DR: The aim of the present review is to define the various origins of root-mediated changes of pH in the rhizosphere, i.e., the volume of soil around roots that is influenced by root activities and the response of plant roots to deficiencies of P and Fe and to Al toxicity.
Abstract: The aim of the present review is to define the various origins of root-mediated changes of pH in the rhizosphere, i.e., the volume of soil around roots that is influenced by root activities. Root-mediated pH changes are of major relevance in an ecological perspective as soil pH is a critical parameter that influences the bioavailability of many nutrients and toxic elements and the physiology of the roots and rhizosphere microorganisms. A major process that contributes root-induced pH changes in the rhizosphere is the release of charges carried by H+ or OH− to compensate for an unbalanced cation–anion uptake at the soil–root interface. In addition to the ions taken up by the plant, all the ions crossing the plasma membrane of root cells (e.g., organic anions exuded by plant roots) should be taken into account, since they all need to be balanced by an exchange of charges, i.e., by a release of either H+ or OH−. Although poorly documented, root exudation and respiration can contribute some proportion of rhizosphere pH decrease as a result of a build-up of the CO2 concentration. This will form carbonic acid in the rhizosphere that may dissociate in neutral to alkaline soils, and result in some pH decrease. Ultimately, plant roots and associated microorganisms can also alter rhizosphere pH via redox-coupled reactions. These various processes involved in root-mediated pH changes in the rhizosphere also depend on environmental constraints, especially nutritional constraints to which plants can respond. This is briefly addressed, with a special emphasis on the response of plant roots to deficiencies of P and Fe and to Al toxicity. Finally, soil pH itself and pH buffering capacity also have a dramatic influence on root-mediated pH changes.
1,194 citations
••
TL;DR: The meaning of the terms "validity" and "utility" as they apply to psychiatric diagnoses is examined and it is important to distinguish between validity and utility in considering psychiatric diagnoses.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The meaning of the terms “validity” and “utility” as they apply to psychiatric diagnoses is examined METHOD: The authors discuss the concepts of validity, utility, and disease; review assumptions that have been made about mental disorders as disease entities; and examine the evidence that mental disorders are separated from one another and from normality by natural boundaries (zones of rarity) RESULTS: Despite historical and recent assumptions to the contrary, there is little evidence that most currently recognized mental disorders are separated by natural boundaries Researchers are increasingly assuming that variation in symptoms is continuous and are therefore questioning the validity of contemporary classifications CONCLUSIONS: It is important to distinguish between validity and utility in considering psychiatric diagnoses Diagnostic categories defined by their syndromes should be regarded as valid only if they have been shown to be discrete entities with natural boundaries that separat
1,127 citations
••
TL;DR: The modelling method presented represents a good way to estimate in vivo muscle forces during movement tasks and changing the muscle model to one that is more physiologically correct produced better predictions.
1,049 citations
••
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the anatomical basis of the barrier to radial O2 loss in various species and found that the barrier may also impede influx of potentially toxic substances such as CO2, methane, and ethylene.
Abstract: Internal transport of gases is crucial for vascular plants inhabiting aquatic, wetland or flood-prone environments. Diffusivity of gases in water is approximately 10 000 times slower than in air; thus direct exchange of gases between submerged tissues and the environment is strongly impeded. Aerenchyma provides a low-resistance internal pathway for gas transport between shoot and root extremities. By this pathway, O2 is supplied to the roots and rhizosphere, while CO2, ethylene, and methane move from the soil to the shoots and atmosphere. Diffusion is the mechanism by which gases move within roots of all plant species, but significant pressurized through-flow occurs in stems and rhizomes of several emergent and floating-leaved wetland plants. Through-flows can raise O2 concentrations in the rhizomes close to ambient levels. In general, rates of flow are determined by plant characteristics such as capacity to generate positive pressures in shoot tissues, and resistance to flow in the aerenchyma, as well as environmental conditions affecting leaf-to-air gradients in humidity and temperature. O2 diffusion in roots is influenced by anatomical, morphological and physiological characteristics, and environmental conditions. Roots of many (but not all) wetland species contain large volumes of aerenchyma (e.g. root porosity can reach 55%), while a barrier impermeable to radial O2 loss (ROL) often occurs in basal zones. These traits act synergistically to enhance the amount of O2 diffusing to the root apex and enable the development of an aerobic rhizosphere around the root tip, which enhances root penetration into anaerobic substrates. The barrier to ROL in roots of some species is induced by growth in stagnant conditions, whereas it is constitutive in others. An inducible change in the resistance to O2 across the hypodermis/exodermis is hypothesized to be of adaptive significance to plants inhabiting transiently waterlogged soils. Knowledge on the anatomical basis of the barrier to ROL in various species is scant. Nevertheless, it has been suggested that the barrier may also impede influx of: (i) soil-derived gases, such as CO2, methane, and ethylene; (ii) potentially toxic substances (e.g. reduced metal ions) often present in waterlogged soils; and (iii) nutrients and water. Lateral roots, that remain permeable to O2, may be the main surface for exchange of substances between the roots and rhizosphere in wetland species. Further work is required to determine whether diversity in structure and function in roots of wetland species can be related to various niche habitats.
1,018 citations
••
TL;DR: In this article, the authors showed that there were two major phases of widespread bimodal magmatism in South China during the Neoproterozoic, one starting before the continental rift but continued into the first two stages of the rifting.
1,007 citations
••
University of Western Australia1, University of Yamanashi2, University of Newcastle3, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration4, University of South Carolina5, University of California, Berkeley6, Oregon State University7, University of São Paulo8, Newcastle University9, University of Saskatchewan10, University of Freiburg11
TL;DR: The IAHS Decade on Predictions in Ungauged Basins (PUB) as discussed by the authors is a new initiative launched by the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) aimed at formulating and implementing appropriate science programmes to engage and energize the scientific community, in a coordinated manner, towards achieving major advances in the capacity to make predictions in ungauged basins.
Abstract: Drainage basins in many parts of the world are ungauged or poorly gauged, and in some cases existing measurement networks are declining. The problem is compounded by the impacts of human-induced changes to the land surface and climate, occur-ring at the local, regional and global scales. Predictions of ungauged or poorly gauged basins under these conditions are highly uncertain. The IAHS Decade on Predictions in Ungauged Basins, or PUB, is a new initiative launched by the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), aimed at formulating and implementing appropriate science programmes to engage and energize the scientific community, in a coordinated manner, towards achieving major advances in the capacity to make predictions in ungauged basins. The PUB scientific programme focuses on the estimation of predictive uncertainty, and its subsequent reduction, as its central theme. A general hydrological prediction system contains three components: (a) a model that describes the key processes of interest, (b) a set of parameters that represent those landscape properties that govern critical processes, and (c) appropriate meteorological inputs (where needed) that drive the basin response. Each of these three components of the prediction system, is either not known at all, or at best known imperfectly, due to the inherent multi-scale space-time heterogeneity of the hydrological system, especially in ungauged basins. PUB will therefore include a set of targeted scientific programmes that attempt to make inferences about climatic inputs, parameters and model structures from available but inadequate data and process knowledge, at the basin of interest and/or from other similar basins, with robust measures of the uncertainties involved, and their impacts on predictive uncertainty. Through generation of improved understanding, and methods for the efficient quantification of the underlying multi-scale heterogeneity of the basin and its response, PUB will inexorably lead to new, innovative methods for hydrological predictions in ungauged basins in different parts of the world, combined with significant reductions of predictive uncertainty. In this way, PUB will demonstrate the value of data, as well as provide the information needed to make predictions in ungauged basins, and assist in capacity building in the use of new technologies. This paper presents a summary of the science and implementation plan of PUB, with a call to the hydrological community to participate actively in the realization of these goals.
938 citations
••
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the asymptotic theory for a vector autoregressive moving average-generalized conditional heteroskedasticity (ARMA-GARCH) model and established the conditions for the strict stationarity, the ergodicity, and the higher order moments of the model.
Abstract: This paper investigates the asymptotic theory for a vector autoregressive moving average–generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARMA-GARCH) model. The conditions for the strict stationarity, the ergodicity, and the higher order moments of the model are established. Consistency of the quasi-maximum-likelihood estimator (QMLE) is proved under only the second-order moment condition. This consistency result is new, even for the univariate autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH) and GARCH models. Moreover, the asymptotic normality of the QMLE for the vector ARCH model is obtained under only the second-order moment of the unconditional errors and the finite fourth-order moment of the conditional errors. Under additional moment conditions, the asymptotic normality of the QMLE is also obtained for the vector ARMA-ARCH and ARMA-GARCH models and also a consistent estimator of the asymptotic covariance.The authors thank the co-Editor, Bruce Hansen, and two referees for very helpful comments and suggestions and acknowledge the financial support of the Australian Research Council.
917 citations
••
TL;DR: A review of the use of detrital zircones for interpreting the stratigraphic record, and thus, the past surface conditions of Earth can be found in this paper.
Abstract: The composition of “heavy,” or accessory, detrital minerals in sediments and sedimentary rocks has been a topic of quantitative study for at least the last seventy years, beginning with the first issue of the Journal of Sedimentary Petrology in May 1931 (Tyler 1931, Pentland 1931). Zircon has since played a prominent and complex role in interpreting the composition and history of modern and ancient sediments. Because zircon is highly refractory at Earth’s surface, it occurs in virtually all sedimentary deposits and so provides a critical link in understanding the source history of a deposit. Twenhofel (1941), in a pioneering paper on the frontiers of sedimentary mineralogy and petrology, noted that the simple presence of detrital zircon would be of little value in determining its source: “Zircons from a half dozen sources with as many different properties may be present in a sediment and merely be identified as zircon. Parent rocks cannot be positively identified on such data . The variety or varieties must be identified and their optical properties determined.” From very early on, then, it was recognized that detrital zircon would be a powerful tool in understanding provenance, and thus, sedimentary dispersal systems.
Interpretive goals matured considerably in the subsequent decades, especially with major advances in microscopy, mineral chemistry, isotope tracer geochemistry, and geochronology, each addressing different aspects of provenance, sedimentation, and Earth history. The hundreds of published studies utilizing detrital zircon in the last 20 years indicate the increasing success in assessing provenance, paleogeography, and tectonic reconstructions. Selected studies are highlighted in this review to illustrate ways in which detrital zircon can be used for interpreting the stratigraphic record, and thus, the past surface conditions of Earth. In it we will outline the quantitative techniques involved in the sampling protocol and interpretation of data and then …
••
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report on inequalities in mortality between two broad socioeconomic groups (high and low education level, non-manual and manual occupations) and find that the widening inequalities were sometimes due to increasing mortality decreases from cardiovascular diseases in the lower socioeconomic groups.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: During the past decades a widening of the relative gap in
death rates between upper and lower socioeconomic groups has been reported
for several European countries. Although differential mortality decline
for cardiovascular diseases has been suggested as an important
contributory factor, it is not known what its quantitative contribution
was, and to what extent other causes of death have contributed to the
widening gap in total mortality. METHODS: We collected data on mortality
by educational level and occupational class among men and women from
national longitudinal studies in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark,
England/Wales, and Italy (Turin), and analysed age-standardized death
rates in two recent time periods (1981-1985 and 1991-1995), both total
mortality and by cause of death. For simplicity, we report on inequalities
in mortality between two broad socioeconomic groups (high and low
educational level, non-manual and manual occupations). RESULTS: Relative
inequalities in total mortality have increased in all six countries, but
absolute differences in total mortality were fairly stable, with the
exception of Finland where an increase occurred. In most countries,
mortality from cardiovascular diseases declined proportionally faster in
the upper socioeconomic groups. The exception is Italy (Turin) where the
reverse occurred. In all countries with the exception of Italy (Turin),
changes in cardiovascular disease mortality contributed about half of the
widening relative gap for total mortality. Other causes also made
important contributions to the widening gap in total mortality. For these
causes, widening inequalities were sometimes due to increasing mortality
rates in the lower socioeconomic groups. We found rising rates of
mortality from lung cancer, breast cancer, respiratory disease,
gastrointestinal disease, and injuries among men and/or women in lower
socioeconomic groups in several countries. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing
socioeconomic inequalities in mortality in Western Europe critically
depends upon speeding up mortality declines from cardiovascular diseases
in lower socioeconomic groups, and countering mortality increases from
several other causes of death in lower socioeconomic groups.
••
TL;DR: Gold-dominant intrusion-related deposits are a less coherent group of deposits, which are mainly Phanerozoic in age, and include a few world-class, but no unequivocal giant, examples as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Metamorphic belts are complex regions where accretion or collision has added
to, or thickened, continental crust. Gold-rich deposits can be formed at all
stages of orogen evolution, so that evolving metamorphic belts contain diverse
gold deposit types that may be juxtaposed or overprint each other. This partly
explains the high level of controversy on the origin of some deposit types,
particularly those formed or overprinted/remobilized during the major
compressional orogeny that shaped the final geometry of the hosting metamorphic
belts. These include gold-dominated orogenic and intrusion-related deposits, but
also particularly controversial gold deposits with atypical metal associations. Orogenic lode gold deposits of Middle Archean to Tertiary age are arguably
the predominant gold deposit type in metamorphic belts, and include several
giant (>250 t Au) and numerous world-class (>100 t Au) examples. Their
defining characteristics and spatial and temporal distributions are now
relatively well documented, such that other gold deposit types can be compared
and contrasted against them. They form as an integral part of the evolution of
subduction-related accretionary or collisional terranes in which the host-rock
sequences were formed in arcs, back arcs, or accretionary prisms. Current
unknowns for orogenic gold deposits include the following: (1) the precise
tectonic setting and age of mineralization in many provinces, particularly in
Paleozoic and older metamorphic belts; (2) the source of ore fluids and metals;
(3) the precise architecture of the hydrothermal systems, particularly the
relationship between first- and lower-order structures; and (4) the specific
depositional mechanisms for gold, particularly for high-grade deposits. Gold-dominant intrusion-related deposits are a less coherent group of
deposits, which are mainly Phanerozoic in age, and include a few world-class,
but no unequivocal giant, examples. They have many similarities to orogenic
deposits in terms of metal associations, wall-rock alteration assemblages, ore
fluids, and, to a lesser extent, structural controls, and hence, some deposits,
particularly those with close spatial relationships to granitoid intrusions,
have been placed in both orogenic and intrusion-related categories by different
authors. Those that are clearly intrusion-related deposits appear to be best
distinguished by their near-craton setting, in locations more distal from
subduction zones than most orogenic gold deposits and in provinces that also
commonly contain Sn and/or W deposits; relatively low gold grades (<1–2
g/t Au); and district-scale zoning to Ag-Pb-Zn deposits in distal zones.
Outstanding problems for intrusion-related deposits include the following: (1)
lack of a clear definition of this apparently diverse group of deposits, (2)
lack of a definitive link for ore fluids and metals between mineralization and
magmatism, (3) the diverse nature of both petrogenetic association and redox
state of the granitoids invoked as the source of mineralization, and (4)
mechanisms for exsolution of the CO 2 -rich ore fluids from the
relatively shallow level granitoids implicated as ore-fluid sources. Gold deposits with atypical metal associations are a particularly diverse and
controversial group, are most abundant in Late Archean terranes, and include
several world-class to giant examples. Most are probably modified Cu-Mo-Au
porphyry, volcanic rock-hosted Zn-Pb-Ag-Au massive sulfide, or Zn-Pb-Ag-Au or
Ba-Au-Mo-Hg submarine epithermal systems, overprinted or remobilized during the
events in which orogenic gold deposits formed, but there is lack of consensus on
genesis. Outstanding problems for these deposits include the following: (1) lack
of a clear grouping of distinctive deposits, (2) lack of published, well
integrated studies of their characteristics, (3) generally a poorly defined
timing of mineralization events, and (4) lack of assessment of metal mass
balances in each stage of the complex mineralization and overprinting events. Both orogenic gold deposits and gold deposits with atypical metal
associations contain a few giant and numerous world-class examples, whereas the
intrusion-related group contains very few world-class examples, and no giants,
unless Muruntau is included in this group. Preliminary analysis suggests that
the parameters of individual world-class to giant gold deposits of any type show
considerable variation, and that it is impossible to define critical factors
that control their size and grade at the deposit scale. However, there appears
more promise at the terrane to province scale where there are greater
indications of common factors such as anomalous subduction-related tectonic
settings, reactivated crustal-scale deformation zones that focus porphyry-lamprophyre
dike swarms in linear volcanosedimentary belts, complex regional-scale geometry
of mixed lithostratigraphic packages, and evidence for multiple mineralization
or remobilization events. There are a number of outstanding problems for all types of gold deposits in
metamorphic belts. These include the following: (1) definitive classifications,
(2) unequivocal recognition of fluid and metal sources, (3) understanding of
fluid migration and focusing at all scales, (4) resolution of the precise role
of granitoid magmatism, (5) precise gold-depositional mechanisms, particularly
those producing high gold grades, and (6) understanding of the release of CO 2 -rich
fluids from subducting slabs and subcreted oceanic crust and granitoid magmas at
different crustal levels. Research needs to be better coordinated and more
integrated, such that detailed fluid-inclusion, trace-element, and isotopic
studies of both gold deposits and potential source rocks, using cutting-edge
technology, are embedded in a firm geological framework at terrane to deposit
scales. Ultimately, four-dimensional models need to be developed, involving
high-quality, three-dimensional geological data combined with integrated
chemical and fluid-flow modeling, to understand the total history of the
hydrothermal systems involved. Such research, particularly that which can
predict superior targets visible in data sets available to exploration companies
before discovery, has obvious spin-offs for global- to deposit-scale targeting
of deposits with superior size and grade in the covered terranes that will be
the exploration focus of the twenty-first century.
••
TL;DR: This paper presents the development of a framework of the potential environmental influences on walking and cycling based on published evidence and policy literature, interviews with experts and a Delphi study, and the perceived relative importance of these factors.
••
TL;DR: To measure the prevalence of obesity in Australian adults and to examine the associations of obesity with socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, a large sample of adults over the age of 40 was surveyed.
Abstract: Objective: To measure the prevalence of obesity in Australian adults and to examine the associations of obesity with socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Design: AusDiab, a cross-sectional study conducted between May 1999 and December 2000, involved participants from 42 randomly selected districts throughout Australia. Participants: Of 20 347 eligible people aged greater than or equal to 25 years who completed a household interview, 11247 attended the physical examination at local survey sites (response rate, 55%). Main outcome measures: Overweight and obesity defined by body mass index (BMI; kg/m(2)) and waist circumference (cm); sociodemographic factors (including smoking, physical activity and television viewing time). Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 25.0 kg/m(2); waist circumference greater than or equal to 80.0 cm [women] or greater than or equal to 94.0 cm [men]) in both sexes was almost 60%, defined by either BMI or waist circumference. The prevalence of obesity was 2.5 times higher than in 1980. Using waist circumference, the prevalence of obesity was higher in women than men (34.1% v 26.8%; P < 0.01). Lower educational status, higher television viewing time and lower physical activity time were each strongly associated with obesity, with television viewing time showing a stronger relationship than physical activity time. Conclusions: The prevalence of obesity in Australia has more than doubled in the past 20 years. Strong positive associations between obesity and each of television viewing time and lower physical activity time confirm the influence of sedentary lifestyles on obesity, and underline the potential benefits of reducing sedentary behaviour, as well as increasing physical activity, to curb the obesity epidemic.
••
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that pre-rifting granitoids are widespread in the Yangtze craton, South China, and they exhibit no temporal or spatial zonation, hence no simple genetic relationship can be established between the different granitoid types and geodynamic environments, as suggested previously.
••
TL;DR: To compare body mass index, waist circumference and waist–hip ratio as indices of obesity and assess the respective associations with type 2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia is compared.
Abstract:
Objectives To compare body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and waist–hip ratio (WHR) as indices of obesity and assess the respective associations with type 2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia
Design and setting A national sample of 11 247 Australians aged ≥25 years was examined in 2000 in a cross-sectional survey
Main outcome measures The examination included a fasting blood sample, standard 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, blood pressure measurements and questionnaires to assess treatment for dyslipidaemia and hypertension BMI, waist circumference and WHR were measured to assess overweight and obesity
Results The prevalence of obesity amongst Australian adults defined by BMI, waist circumference and WHR was 208, 305 and 158% respectively The unadjusted odds ratio for the fourth vs first quartile of each obesity measurement showed that WHR had the strongest relationship with type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia (women only) and hypertension Following adjustment for age, however, there was little difference between the three measures of obesity, with the possible exceptions of hypertension in women, where BMI had a stronger association, and dyslipidaemia in women and type 2 diabetes in men, where WHR was marginally superior
Conclusions Waist circumference, BMI and WHR identified different proportions of the population, as measured by both prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors Whilst WHR had the strongest correlations with CVD risk factors before adjustment for age, the three obesity measures performed similarly after adjustment for age Given the difficulty of using age-adjusted associations in the clinical setting, these results suggest that given appropriate cut-off points, WHR is the most useful measure of obesity to use to identify individuals with CVD risk factors
••
TL;DR: In this paper, the analysis of noise and vibration signals is presented. But the authors focus on a case study of pipe flow noise and vibrations and use it as a diagnostic tool.
Abstract: Preface Acknowledgements Introductory comments 1. Mechanical vibrations: a review of some fundamentals 2. Sound waves: a review of some fundamentals 3. Interactions between sound waves and solid structures 4. Noise and vibration measurement and control procedures 5. The analysis of noise and vibration signals 6. Statistical energy analysis of noise and vibration 7. Pipe flow noise and vibration: a case study 8. Noise and vibration as a diagnostic tool 9. Worked examples Appendices Problems Answers to problems Index.
•
TL;DR: Dan Lovallo and Daniel Kahneman show that a combination of cognitive biases (including anchoring and competitor neglect) and organizational pressures lead managers to make overly optimistic forecasts in analyzing proposals for major investments, leading their organizations into initiatives that are doomed to fall well short of expectations.
Abstract: The evidence is disturbingly clear: Most major business initiatives--mergers and acquisitions, capital investments, market entries--fail to ever pay off. Economists would argue that the low success rate reflects a rational assessment of risk, with the returns from a few successes outweighing the losses of many failures. But two distinguished scholars of decision making, Dan Lovallo of the University of New South Wales and Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman of Princeton University, provide a very different explanation. They show that a combination of cognitive biases (including anchoring and competitor neglect) and organizational pressures lead managers to make overly optimistic forecasts in analyzing proposals for major investments. By exaggerating the likely benefits of a project and ignoring the potential pitfalls, they lead their organizations into initiatives that are doomed to fall well short of expectations. The biases and pressures cannot be escaped, the authors argue, but they can be tempered by applying a very different method of forecasting--one that takes a much more objective "outside view" of an initiative's likely outcome. This outside view, also known as reference-class forecasting, completely ignores the details of the project at hand; instead, it encourages managers to examine the experiences of a class of similar projects, to lay out a rough distribution of outcomes for this reference class, and then to position the current project in that distribution. The outside view is more likely than the inside view to produce accurate forecasts--and much less likely to deliver highly unrealistic ones, the authors say.
••
TL;DR: In this article, the roles of risk, uncertainty and learning in the adoption of new technologies are reviewed, with a focus on agricultural technologies, and a conceptual framework that captures the main impacts and role of risk is outlined.
••
University of Dundee1, Cleveland Clinic2, University of Perugia3, Lille University of Science and Technology4, Duke University5, Ghent University6, Harvard University7, Howard Hughes Medical Institute8, Northwestern University9, University of Western Australia10, RWTH Aachen University11, University of Minnesota12, University of Mainz13, University at Albany, SUNY14
TL;DR: This research presents a novel and scalable approach to understanding and treating atherothrombotic disease through a probabilistic approach called “informed consent” that combines natural selection, informed consent, and data collection and analysis.
Abstract: Jill J. F. Belch, MD; Eric J. Topol, MD; Giancarlo Agnelli, MD; Michel Bertrand, MD; Robert M. Califf, MD; Denis L. Clement, MD; Mark A. Creager, MD; J. Donald Easton, MD; James R. Gavin III, MD, PhD; Philip Greenland, MD; Graeme Hankey, MD; Peter Hanrath, MD; Alan T. Hirsch, MD; Jurgen Meyer, MD; Sidney C. Smith, MD; Frank Sullivan, PhD; Michael A. Weber, MD; for the Prevention of Atherothrombotic Disease Network
••
TL;DR: Analysis of the ontogeny of the disease in children and use of gene array technology should provide some important answers to allow a better understanding of the critical role that the epithelium plays under normal conditions and in diseases such as asthma.
Abstract: The major function of the respiratory epithelium was once thought to be that of a physical barrier. However, it constitutes the interface between the internal milieu and the external environment as well as being a primary target for inhaled respiratory drugs. It also responds to changes in the external environment by secreting a large number of molecules and mediators that signal to cells of the immune system and underlying mesenchyme. Thus, the epithelium is in a unique position to translate gene-environment interactions. Normally, the epithelium has a tremendous capacity to repair itself following injury. However, evidence is rapidly accumulating to show that the airway epithelium of asthmatics is abnormal and has increased susceptibility to injury compared to normal epithelium. Areas of detachment and fragility are a characteristic feature not observed in other inflammatory diseases such as COPD. In addition to being more susceptible to damage, normal repair processes are also compromised. Failure of appropriate growth and differentiation of airway epithelial cells will cause persistent mucosal injury. The response to traditional therapy such as glucocorticoids may also be compromised. However, whether the differences observed in asthmatic epithelium are a cause of or secondary to the development of the disease remains unanswered. Strategies to address this question include careful examination of the ontogeny of the disease in children and use of gene array technology should provide some important answers, as well as allow a better understanding of the critical role that the epithelium plays under normal conditions and in diseases such as asthma.
••
TL;DR: These data suggest a potential reduction in subsequent infant allergy after maternal PUFA supplementation, and more detailed follow-up studies are required to establish the robustness of these findings and to ascertain their significance in relation to longer-term modification of allergic disease in children.
Abstract: Background There is growing interest in the potential role of anti-inflammatory n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) in the prevention of allergic disease. Objective We sought to determine whether maternal dietary supplementation with n-3 PUFAs during pregnancy could modify immune responses in infants. Methods In a randomized, controlled trial 98 atopic, pregnant women received fish oil (3.7 g n-3 PUFAs per day) or placebo from 20 weeks' gestation until delivery. Neonatal PUFA levels and immunologic response to allergens were measured at birth. Results Eighty-three women completed the study. Fish oil supplementation (n = 40) achieved significantly higher proportions of n-3 PUFAs in neonatal erythrocyte membranes (mean ± SD, 17.75% ± 1.85% as a percentage of total fatty acids) compared with the control group (n = 43, 13.69% ± 1.22%, P P = .055). Although there was no difference in the frequency of atopic dermatitis at 1 year of age, infants in the fish oil group also had significantly less severe disease (odds ratio, 0.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.01 to 0.94; P = .045). Conclusions These data suggest a potential reduction in subsequent infant allergy after maternal PUFA supplementation. More detailed follow-up studies are required in larger cohorts to establish the robustness of these findings and to ascertain their significance in relation to longer-term modification of allergic disease in children.
••
TL;DR: The purpose of this paper was to compare the repeatability of gait data obtained from two models, one based on ALs, and the other incorporating a functional method to define hip joint centres and a mean helical axis to define knee joint flexion/extension axes (FUN model).
••
TL;DR: This review focuses on the many natural products that have been implicated in cancer prevention and that promote human health without recognisable side effects from vegetables, fruits, plant extracts, and herbs.
••
TL;DR: A number of conclusions can be drawn regarding the effects of active warm up on performance and the role of warm up in different environmental conditions, especially for endurance events where a critical core temperature may limit performance.
Abstract: While warm up is considered to be essential for optimum performance, there is little scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness in many situations. As a result, warm-up procedures are usually based on the trial and error experience of the athlete or coach, rather than on scientific study. Summarising the findings of the many warm-up studies conducted over the years is difficult. Many of the earlier studies were poorly controlled, contained few study participants and often omitted statistical analyses. Furthermore, over the years, warm up protocols consisting of different types (e.g. active, passive, specific) and structures (e.g. varied intensity, duration and recovery) have been used. Finally, while many studies have investigated the physiological responses to warm up, relatively few studies have reported changes in performance following warm up. The first part of this review critically analyses reported changes in performance following various active warm-up protocols. While there is a scarcity of well-controlled studies with large subject numbers and appropriate statistical analyses, a number of conclusions can be drawn regarding the effects of active warm up on performance. Active warm up tends to result in slightly larger improvements in short-term performance ( 10 seconds, but <5 minutes) if it allows the athlete to begin the subsequent task in a relatively non-fatigued state, but with an elevated baseline oxygen consumption (VO2). While active warm up has been reported to improve endurance performance, it may have a detrimental effect on endurance performance if it causes a significant increase in thermoregulatory strain. The addition of a brief, task-specific burst of activity has been reported to provide further ergogenic benefits for some tasks. By manipulating intensity, duration and recovery, many different warm-up protocols may be able to achieve similar physiological and performance changes. Finally, passive warm-up techniques may be important to supplement or maintain temperature increases produced by an active warm up, especially if there is an unavoidable delay between the warm up and the task and/or the weather is cold. Further research is required to investigate the role of warm up in different environmental conditions, especially for endurance events where a critical core temperature may limit performance.
••
Duke University1, Emory University2, Ohio State University3, Vanderbilt University Medical Center4, University of Miami5, University of Kansas6, University of Pennsylvania7, Marshfield Clinic8, Baylor College of Medicine9, University of California, Los Angeles10, University of Western Australia11, GlaxoSmithKline12
TL;DR: The results suggest that ND3 is an important factor in PD susceptibility among white individuals and could help explain the role of complex I in PD expression.
Abstract: Mitochondrial (mt) impairment, particularly within complex I of the electron transport system, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease (PD). More than half of mitochondrially encoded polypeptides form part of the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase (NADH) complex I enzyme. To test the hypothesis that mtDNA variation contributes to PD expression, we genotyped 10 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that define the European mtDNA haplogroups in 609 white patients with PD and 340 unaffected white control subjects. Overall, individuals classified as haplogroup J (odds ratio [OR] 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.34–0.91; P=.02) or K (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.30–0.90; P=.02) demonstrated a significant decrease in risk of PD versus individuals carrying the most common haplogroup, H. Furthermore, a specific SNP that defines these two haplogroups, 10398G, is strongly associated with this protective effect (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.39–0.73; P=.0001). SNP 10398G causes a nonconservative amino acid change from threonine to alanine within the NADH dehydrogenase 3 (ND3) of complex I. After stratification by sex, this decrease in risk appeared stronger in women than in men (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.27–0.71; P=.0009). In addition, SNP 9055A of ATP6 demonstrated a protective effect for women (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.22–0.93; P=.03). Our results suggest that ND3 is an important factor in PD susceptibility among white individuals and could help explain the role of complex I in PD expression.
••
TL;DR: Despite limited scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness, warm-up routines prior to exercise are a well-accepted practice and can be broadly classified into two major categories: passive warm up or active warm up.
Abstract: Despite limited scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness, warm-up routines prior to exercise are a well-accepted practice. The majority of the effects of warm up have been attributed to temperature-related mechanisms (e.g. decreased stiffness, increased nerve-conduction rate, altered force-velocity relationship, increased anaerobic energy provision and increased thermoregulatory strain), although non-temperature-related mechanisms have also been proposed (e.g. effects of acidaemia, elevation of baseline oxygen consumption (VO2) and increased postactivation potentiation). It has also been hypothesised that warm up may have a number of psychological effects (e.g. increased preparedness). Warm-up techniques can be broadly classified into two major categories: passive warm up or active warm up. Passive warm up involves raising muscle or core temperature by some external means, while active warm up utilises exercise. Passive heating allows one to obtain the increase in muscle or core temperature achieved by active warm up without depleting energy substrates. Passive warm up, although not practical for most athletes, also allows one to test the hypothesis that many of the performance changes associated with active warm up can be largely attributed to temperature-related mechanisms.
••
TL;DR: Determined serum concentrations of soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMR) in serum could be a useful marker for diagnosis of mesothelioma and to monitor disease progression and might also prove helpful for screening asbestos-exposed individuals for early evidence of mesosarcoma.
••
TL;DR: It is shown that acclimation to anoxia in plants involves integration of a set of sophisticated characteristics, as a consequence of which the habitat within the anoxic cell is a very different world to that of the aerobic cell.
Abstract: Anoxia can be one consequence of waterlogging and submergence of plants. Anoxia in plant tissues reduces the rate of energy production by 65-97% compared with the rate in air. Thus, adaptation to anoxia always includes coping with an energy crisis. Tolerance to anoxia is relevant to wetland species, rice cultivation and transient waterlogging of other agricultural and horticultural crops. This perspective, in two parts, examines mechanisms of anoxia tolerance in plants. Part 1 covers anoxia tolerance in terms of growth and survival, the interaction of anoxia tolerance with other environmental factors, and the development of anoxic cores within plant tissues. Equally importantly, Part 1 also examines anaerobic carbohydrate catabolism (principally ethanolic fermentation in plants) and its regulation. We put forward two modes of anoxia tolerance, one based on reduced rates of anaerobic carbohydrate catabolism and the other on accelerated rates (Pasteur effect). Further, Part 1 examines mechanisms of post-anoxic injury. In Part 2 (Greenway and Gibbs, manuscript in preparation) we consider flow of the limited amount of energy produced under anoxia to processes essential for cell survival. We show that acclimation to anoxia in plants involves integration of a set of sophisticated characteristics, as a consequence of which the habitat within the anoxic cell is a very different world to that of the aerobic cell.