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Eastern Areas (eastern + area)
Selected AbstractsMusculoskeletal Pain and Risk for Falls in Older Disabled Women Living in the CommunityJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 4 2002Suzanne G. Leveille PhD OBJECTIVES: To determine whether musculoskeletal pain increased risk for falls in older women with disabilities. DESIGN: Prospective population-based cohort study. SETTING: The city and county of the eastern area of Baltimore. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand two women aged 65 and older, participants in the Women's Health and Aging Study, representing the one-third of older women who were living at home with disabilities, followed semiannually for 3 years beginning in 1991. MEASUREMENTS: Pain was categorized into four groups according to severity and location. Widespread pain was defined as pain in the upper and lower extremities and in the axial skeletal region, with moderate to severe pain in at least one region (, 4 on a 10-point numeric rating scale, 10 = excruciating pain). Moderate to severe lower extremity pain that did not meet criteria for widespread pain was the next category. The reference category was no pain or mild pain in one site. The additional category of "other pain" was pain that did not fit into the other three groups. The occurrence of falls and fall-related injuries were assessed at each interview. RESULTS: Of the 940 women who participated in at least one follow-up examination, 39% fell in first year; of the survivors, 36% fell in Year 2, and 39% in Year 3. After adjusting for several major risk factors for falls, women with widespread pain had an increased likelihood of falling during follow-up (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.25,2.21) compared with those with no or mild pain in only one musculoskeletal site. Women who had other musculoskeletal pain but not widespread pain or lower extremity pain also had an increased risk of falls (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.02,1.82). Among women with musculoskeletal pain, risk for falls was lower in those who used daily analgesic medication. Risk for recurrent falls and self-reported fractures due to falls was also elevated in women with musculoskeletal pain, most consistently in women with widespread pain. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal pain, particularly widespread pain, is a substantial risk factor for falls in older women with disabilities. These findings add an important dimension to our understanding of the multifactorial processes leading to falls in older persons. J Am Geriatr Soc 50:671,678, 2002. [source] Breeding biology of ostriches (Struthio camelus) in the Serengeti ecosystem, TanzaniaAFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Flora J. Magige Abstract Ostrich breeding behaviour in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania was investigated for differences in laying dates between low altitude western area (WA) and high altitude eastern area (EA) populations. Ostriches in WA laid eggs significantly earlier than in EA. The differences could be attributed to topography and rainfall pattern. Reliable rains in lower altitudes ensure availability of food that in turn influences the whole process of the reproductive cycle. Clutches were contributed by several females with a nest having up to 38 eggs. We also compared the frequency of observation of predators, ostriches, nests, ,singletons' (single eggs laid randomly) and broods between the two areas. There was no significant difference between WA and EA in 1) ostrich/nest ratio, indicating similar breeding densities; 2) ostrich/predator and predator/nest ratios, indicating that predation pressure was equally high; 3) nest/singleton and predator/singleton ratios, indicating that loss of nests did not vary between areas. However, there were significantly more predators, nests and ostriches compared to broods in EA than in WA, indicating a significantly lower reproductive success in EA. Using metapopulation terminology, ostriches in EA could be regarded as a ,sink' population and those in WA as a ,source' population, but investigations over longer time-periods are needed to further resolve if this is the case. Résumé Le comportement reproducteur des autruches dans l'écosystème du Serengeti, en Tanzanie, a étéétudié pour voir les différences dans les dates de pontes entre les populations de la zone occidentale (WA) à basse altitude et de la zone orientale (EA) à plus haute altitude. Les autruches de la WA pondent significativement plus tôt que celles de l'EA. Les différences peuvent être attribuées à la topographie et au régime de la pluviosité. Les pluies fiables à plus basse altitude garantissent la disponibilité de la nourriture, ce qui influence dès lors tout le processus du cycle reproducteur. Des couvées réunissaient les ,ufs de plusieurs femelles , un nid a eu jusqu'à 38 ,ufs. Nous avons aussi comparé la fréquence d'observations de prédateurs, d'autruches, de nids, de «ingletons» (des ,ufs solitaires pondus au hasard) et de nichées entre les deux zones. Il n'y a pas de différence significative entre WA et EA pour 1) le ratio autruches/nids, ce qui indique des densités de reproduction similaires; 2) le ratio autruches/prédateurs et le ratio prédateurs/nids, ce qui indique que la pression de la prédation est aussi haute des deux côtés; et 3) le ratio nids/singletons et le ratio prédateurs/singletons, ce qui indique que la perte des nids ne variait pas entre les zones. Cependant, il y avait significativement plus de prédateurs, de nids et d'autruches par rapport aux nichées dans l'EA que dans la WA, ce qui indique une réussite de la reproduction significativement plus faible dans la EA. En utilisant la terminologie de la métapopulation, les autruches de la EA peuvent être considérées comme une population «puits» et celles de la WA comme une population «source», mais il faudrait faire des recherches de plus longue durée pour montrer si c'est bien le cas. [source] The Pliocene to Early Pleistocene marine to fluviatile succession of the Seuil du Cotentin basins (Armorican Massif, Normandy, France)JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE, Issue 3-4 2003Olivier Dugué Abstract Marine and fluvial Plio-Pleistocene deposits of the Seuil du Cotentin, western Normandy range in age from Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene. They are preserved in small Cenozoic grabens and are divided into six new formations based on lithology, granulometry, sedimentary structures and associated fossils. The depositional environments of these formations change from marine to fluviatile and represent two transgression,regression cycles. This paper outlines the detailed stratigraphical relationships of the western Normandy Plio-Pleistocene succession and discusses its correlation with the adjacent eastern area in the Seine River valley (France), in Cornwall and in the southern North Sea basin (East Anglia, Belgium, The Netherlands). Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] How did an annual plant react to Pleistocene glaciations?BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 1 2009Postglacial history of Rhinanthus angustifolius in Europe The impact of climate fluctuations during the Pleistocene on the geographic structure of genetic variation in plant populations is well documented, but there is a lack of studies of annual species at the European scale. The present study aimed to infer the history of the widespread European annual Rhinanthus angustifolius C. C. Gmelin (Orobanchaceae). We explored variation in chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) in twenty-nine populations covering the entire distribution area of the species. Five AFLP groups were identified, suggesting at least two glacial refugial areas: one area in southwestern Europe and one large eastern area in the Balkan/Caucasus. Recolonization of previously glaciated areas mainly took place from the east of Europe. Despite the difference in life-history traits, the patterns found for the annual R. angustifolius show similarities with those of perennial species in terms of genetic diversity and geographic organization of genetic variation. Although organelle markers have typically been preferred in phylogeographic studies, the cpDNA variation in R. angustifolius did not show any clear geographic structure. The absence of geographic structure in the cpDNA variation may reflect persistence of ancestral polymorphisms or hybridization and introgression with closely-related species. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 98, 1,13. [source] Influence of fault map resolution on pore pressure distribution and secondary hydrocarbon migration; Tune area, North SeaGEOFLUIDS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2006A. E. LOTHE Abstract Pressure and hydrocarbon migration modelling was carried out in the Tune Field area, Viking Graben, offshore Norway. The pressures are considered to be controlled by compartments bounded by mapped faults. Two different interpreted fault maps at the top reservoir level (Brent Group) are used as input to the modelling. First, a low-resolution fault map is used, with only the large faults interpreted, and next, both large and small faults are included. The simulations show high overpressures generated in the western area, in the deeper part of the Viking Graben, and hydrostatic in the eastern areas. A sharp transition zone results from using the low-resolution fault map in the simulations. Small N,S striking faults situated in between the wells have to have higher sealing capacity than expected from juxtaposition analysis alone, to be able to match the overpressures measured in well 30/5-2 and 30/8-1S in the Tune Field, and well 30/8-3 east of Tune. The intermediate pressure in the western part is probably related to flow in the deeper parts of the sedimentary column in the compartment, where well 30/8-3 is situated. The secondary oil migration models show that overpressures have major effects on the migration pathways of hydrocarbons. The level of detail in the fault interpretation is important for simulation results, both for pressure distribution and for hydrocarbon migration. [source] Mass mortality in Northwestern Mediterranean rocky benthic communities: effects of the 2003 heat waveGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2009J. GARRABOU Abstract Late in summer 2003, extensive mass mortality of at least 25 rocky benthic macro-invertebrate species (mainly gorgonians and sponges) was observed in the entire Northwestern (NW) Mediterranean region, affecting several thousand kilometers of coastline. We were able to characterize the mortality event by studying six areas covering the main regions of the NW Mediterranean basin. The degree of impact on each study area was quantified at 49 sites by estimating the proportion of colonies affected in populations of several gorgonian species compared with reference data obtained in years without mortality signs. According to these data, the western areas (Catalan coast and Balearic Islands) were the least affected, while the central areas (Provence coast and Corsica-Sardinia) showed a moderate impact. The northernmost and eastern areas (Gulf of Genoa and Gulf of Naples) displayed the highest impact, with almost 80% of gorgonian colonies affected. The heat wave of 2003 in Europe caused an anomalous warming of seawater, which reached the highest temperatures ever recorded in the studied regions, between 1 and 3 °C above the climatic values (mean and maximum). Because this exceptional warming was observed in the depth ranges most affected by the mortality, it seems likely that the 2003 anomalous temperature played a key role in the observed mortality event. A correlation analysis between temperature conditions and degree of impact seems to support this hypothesis. Under the present climate warming trend, new mass mortality events may occur in the near future, possibly driving a major biodiversity crisis in the Mediterranean Sea. [source] The genetic diversity of perennial Leymus chinensis originating from ChinaGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 1 2007Z. P. Liu Summary Leymus chinensis is an economically and ecologically important grass that is widely distributed across eastern areas of the Eurasian steppe. A better knowledge of genetic diversity of L. chinensis could be valuable in the efficient utilization, conservation and management of germplasm collections. Genetic diversity in thirty-seven morphological characters of 293 accessions was assessed in three successive years. Based on these qualitative and quantitative characters, the genetic diversity indices (Shannon indices) of traits and geographical populations were estimated, and a principal coordinates analysis and a path analysis were undertaken. Compared with the yellow-green type of L. chinensis, the grey-green type had significantly (P < 0·05) more genetic diversity. In addition, the path analysis suggested that the combined effects of genetic diversity and vegetative traits could explain 0·206 of the total variance in plant reproductive traits. The highest Shannon genetic diversity index of accessions (H = 2·252) was observed in accessions from the region of longitude of 124,128°E, suggesting the most abundant germplasm of L. chinensis in this region. [source] Evolution of an accretionary complex along the north arm of the Island of Sulawesi, IndonesiaISLAND ARC, Issue 1 2004Yusuf Surachman Djajadihardja Abstract Seismic reflections across the accretionary prism of the North Sulawesi provide excellent images of the various structural domains landward of the frontal thrust. The structural domain in the accretionary prism area of the North Sulawesi Trench can be divided into four zones: (i) trench area; (ii) Zone A; (iii) Zone B; and (iv) Zone C. Zone A is an active imbrication zone where a decollement is well imaged. Zone B is dominated by out-of-sequence thrusts and small slope basins. Zone C is structurally high in the forearc basin, overlain by a thick sedimentary sequence. The subducted and accreted sedimentary packages are separated by the decollement. Topography of the oceanic basement is rough, both in the basin and beneath the wedge. The accretionary prism along the North Sulawesi Trench grew because of the collision between eastern Sulawesi and the Bangai,Sula microcontinent along the Sorong Fault in the middle Miocene. This collision produced a large rotation of the north arm of Sulawesi Island. Rotation and northward movement of the north arm of Sulawesi may have resulted in southward subduction and development of the accretionary wedge along North Sulawesi. Lateral variations are wider in the western areas relative to the eastern areas. This is due to greater convergence rates in the western area: 5 km/My for the west and 1.5 km/My for the east. An accretionary prism model indicates that the initiation of growth of the accretionary prism in the North Sulawesi Trench occurred approximately 5 Ma. A comparison between the North Sulawesi accretionary prism and the Nankai accretionary prism of Japan reveals similar internal structures, suggesting similar mechanical processes and structural evolution. [source] UTILIZING INDUCED RECHARGE FOR REGIONAL AQUIFER MANAGEMENT,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 2 2001John S. Koreny ABSTRACT: The deep aquifers of the Portland Basin are used as a regional water supply by at least six municipalities in Oregon and Washington. Maximum continuous use of the aquifers in 1998 was 13 mgd and peak emergency use was 55 mgd. Continuous use of the deep aquifers at a rate of 55 mgd has been proposed and inchoate water rights have been reserved for expansion of pumping to 121 mgd. A study was completed, using a calibrated ground water flow model, to evaluate the role of induced recharge from the Columbia River in mitigating aquifer drawdown from continuous-use and expanded pumping scenarios in the center and eastern areas of the basin. The absolute average residual was less than 3.6 feet for steady-state model calibrations, and less than 8.0 feet for transient calibration to a 42 mgd pumping event in 1987 with 170 feet of drawdown. Continuous use of the aquifers at a rate of 55 mgd is predicted to increase drawdown to 210 feet. Expansion of pumping to 121 mgd in the center basin is predicted to cause 400 feet of drawdown. However, expansion of pumping in the east basin is predicted to result in only 220 feet of drawdown because of induced recharge from the Columbia River. [source] Association of natural fluoride in community water supplies with dental health of children in remote Indigenous communities , implications for policyAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 3 2009Ross S. Bailie Abstract Objective: To map the geographic distribution of fluoride in water supplies and child dental caries in remote Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory (NT). To examine the association between fluoride levels, household and community factors, access to services and child dental caries in these communities and to model the impact on the caries experience of children of introducing water fluoridation. Methods: Fluoride testing was conducted in 80 locations across the NT in 2001. Measures of mean caries experience for six-year-olds and 12-year-olds and community and housing-related infrastructure were obtained from records of the NT School Dental Service. Associations between community fluoride levels, community level variables and childhood caries experience and potential impact of water fluoridation were assessed using linear regression modeling. Results: Mean caries experience for six- and 12-year-olds tended to be higher in northern and eastern areas of the NT, corresponding to the distribution of low levels of natural fluoride. Several-fold more children in remote NT communities are exposed to the risks of inadequate fluoride than are exposed to excessive fluoride. Mean reticulated fluoride level was the only variable significantly associated (p<0.05) with caries experience in both age groups. The potential reduction of caries through introducing water fluoridation is expected to be about 28% for children living in communities with the lowest levels of fluoride (<0.3 mg/L). Conclusions and Implications: Introduction of fluoridation of water supplies into communities with inadequate natural fluoride is a vital measure for improving the dental health of children living in remote NT communities. [source] Biogeography meets conservation: the genetic structure of the endangered lycaenid butterfly Lycaena helle (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 1 2010JAN CHRISTIAN HABEL Cold-adapted species are thought to have had their largest distribution ranges in central Europe during the glacial periods. Postglacial warming caused severe range shifts of such taxa into higher latitudes and altitudes. We selected the boreomontane butterfly Lycaena helle (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) as an example to demonstrate the genetic effects of range changes, and to document the recent status of highly fragmented remnant populations. We analysed five polymorphic microsatellite loci in 1059 individuals sampled at 50 different localities scattered over the European distribution area of the species. Genetic differentiation was strong among the mountain ranges of western Europe, but we did not detect similarly distinct genetic groups following a geographical pattern in the more eastern areas. The Fennoscandian populations form a separate genetic group, and provide evidence for a colonization from southern Finland via northern Scandinavia to south-central Sweden. Species distribution modelling suggests a large extension of the spatial distribution during the last glacial maximum, but highlights strong retractions to a few mountain areas under current conditions. These findings, combined with our genetic data, suggest a more or less continuous distribution of L. helle throughout central Europe at the end of the last ice age. As a consequence of postglacial warming, the species retreated northwards to Fennoscandia and escaped increasing temperatures through altitudinal shifts. Therefore, the species is today restricted to population remnants located at the mountain tops of western Europe, genetically isolated from each other, and evolved into genetically unique entities. Rising temperatures and advancing habitat destruction threaten this wealth of biodiversity. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 101, 155,168. [source] | ||||||||||||||||