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Gain
Kinds of Gain Terms modified by Gain Selected AbstractsTHE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GAIN FROM NEW MODELS OF HEALTHCARE PROVISION: THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIESECONOMIC AFFAIRS, Issue 3 2006Nick Bosanquet The case for competition in healthcare has become much stronqer. Health economists have failed to notice the erosion of the old arguments for state monopoly. [source] BEHAVIOURAL INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT WEIGHT GAIN ON SMOKING CESSATION: A RESPONSEADDICTION, Issue 12 2009AMANDA PARSONS No abstract is available for this article. [source] Results from two randomized clinical trials evaluating the impact of quarterly recovery management checkups with adult chronic substance usersADDICTION, Issue 6 2009Christy K Scott ABSTRACT Aims Post-discharge monitoring and early reintervention have become standard practice when managing numerous chronic conditions. These two experiments tested the effectiveness of recovery management checkup (RMC) protocols for adult chronic substance users. Intervention RMC included quarterly monitoring; motivational interviewing to provide personalized feedback and to resolve ambivalence about substance use; treatment linkage, engagement and retention protocols to increase the amount of treatment received. Participants and setting Recruited from sequential addiction treatment admissions, participants in the two experiments were, on average, 36 and 38 years of age, mainly female (59% versus 46%), African American (85% versus 80%) and met past-year criteria for dependence (87% versus 76%). Design Participants in both experiments were assigned randomly to the RMC or control condition and interviewed quarterly for 2 years. Measurement The Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN) was the main assessment instrument. Findings RMC participant outcomes were better than control participants in both experiments. Effect sizes were larger in the second experiment in terms of reducing days to readmission (Cohen's d = 0.41 versus d = 0.22), successive quarters in the community using substances (d = ,0.32 versus ,0.19), past-month symptoms of abuse/dependence (d = ,0.23 versus ,0.02) and increasing the days of abstinence over 2 years (d = +0.29 versus 0.04). Conclusion RMC, which provided ongoing monitoring and linkage, is feasible to conduct and is effective for adults with chronic substance dependence. [source] WHEN ONTOGENY REVEALS WHAT PHYLOGENY HIDES: GAIN AND LOSS OF HORNS DURING DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION OF HORNED BEETLESEVOLUTION, Issue 11 2006Armin P. Moczek Abstract How ecological, developmental and genetic mechanisms interact in the genesis and subsequent diversification of morphological novelties is unknown for the vast majority of traits and organisms. Here we explore the ecological, developmental, and genetic underpinnings of a class of traits that is both novel and highly diverse: beetle horns. Specifically, we focus on the origin and diversification of a particular horn type, those protruding from the pronotum, in the genus Onthophagus, a particularly speciose and morphologically diverse genus of horned beetles. We begin by documenting immature development of nine Onthophagus species and show that all of these species express pronotal horns in a developmentally transient fashion in at least one or both sexes. Similar to species that retain their horns to adulthood, transient horns grow during late larval development and are clearly visible in pupae. However, unlike species that express horns as adults, transient horns are resorbed during pupal development. In a large number of species this mechanisms allows fully horned pupae to molt into entirely hornless adults. Consequently, far more Onthophagus species appear to possess the ability to develop pronotal horns than is indicated by their adult phenotypes. We use our data to expand a recent phylogeny of the genus Onthophagus to explore how the widespread existence of developmentally transient horns alters our understanding of the origin and dynamics of morphological innovation and diversification in this genus. We find that including transient horn development into the phylogeny dramatically reduces the number of independent origins required to explain extant diversity patters and suggest that pronotal horns may have originated only a few times, or possibly only once, during early Onthophagus evolution. We then propose a new and previously undescribed function for pronotal horns during immature development. We provide histological as well as experimental data that illustrate that pronotal horns are crucial for successful ecdysis of the larval head capsule during the larval-to-pupal molt, and that this molting function appears to be unique to the genus Onthophagus and absent in the other scarabaeine genera. We discuss how this additional function may help explain the existence and maintenance of developmentally transient horns, and how at least some horn types of adult beetles may have evolved as exaptations from pupal structures originally evolved to perform an unrelated function. [source] TASTE DISORDERS PRESENT IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE DO NOT HAVE AN EFFECT ON OVERHYDRATION AND EXCESSIVE WEIGHT GAIN BETWEEN DIALYSES (Letter to the Editor)NEPHROLOGY, Issue 3 2005Maciej Bohatyrewicz [source] EFFECTS OF ANTIOXIDANT SUPPLEMENTS COMBINED WITH RESISTANCE EXERCISE ON GAINS IN FAT-FREE MASS IN HEALTHY ELDERLY SUBJECTS: A PILOT STUDYJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 9 2008Mélissa Labonté Dtp No abstract is available for this article. [source] EVALUATING GAINS FROM MERGERS IN A NON-PARAMETRIC PUBLIC GOOD MODEL OF POLICE SERVICESANNALS OF PUBLIC AND COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS, Issue 1 2008Richard SIMPER ABSTRACT,:,The merger of police services in the UK has been suggested on the grounds that efficiency improvements will be possible. This paper applies a public good model of the police service to evaluate the potential efficiency gains from mergers of police services in England and Wales. It uses a non-parametric method suggested by Bogetoft and Wang (2005). We construct a dataset that reflects the public good nature of police service and allows for the exogenous imposition by government on the level of police service budgets. Our main finding is that English and Welsh police service mergers could lead to increases in police staff resource efficiencies between 10 per cent and 70 per cent. Hence, we confirm the government's decision to merge English and Welsh police services. [source] PARENTS BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN HOME THERAPY PROGRAMS, STRIVING TO MAXIMISE GAINS FOR THEIR CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY, GIVEN TIME TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THEIR SITUATIONAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2004Christine Imms No abstract is available for this article. [source] Evaluation Metrics in Classification: A Quantification of Distance-BiasCOMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, Issue 3 2003Ricardo Vilalta This article provides a characterization of bias for evaluation metrics in classification (e.g., Information Gain, Gini, ,2, etc.). Our characterization provides a uniform representation for all traditional evaluation metrics. Such representation leads naturally to a measure for the distance between the bias of two evaluation metrics. We give a practical value to our measure by observing the distance between the bias of two evaluation metrics and its correlation with differences in predictive accuracy when we compare two versions of the same learning algorithm that differ in the evaluation metric only. Experiments on real-world domains show how the expectations on accuracy differences generated by the distance-bias measure correlate with actual differences when the learning algorithm is simple (e.g., search for the best single feature or the best single rule). The correlation, however, weakens with more complex algorithms (e.g., learning decision trees). Our results show how interaction among learning components is a key factor to understand learning performance. [source] Sef is synexpressed with FGFs during chick embryogenesis and its expression is differentially regulated by FGFs in the developing limbDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2005Haggar Harduf Abstract The signaling pathways leading to growth and patterning of various organs are tightly controlled during the development of any organism. These control mechanisms usually involve the utilization of feedback- and pathway-specific antagonists where the pathway induces the expression of its own antagonist. Sef is a feedback antagonist of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling, which has been identified recently in zebrafish and mammals. Here, we report the isolation of chicken Sef (cSef) and demonstrate the conserved nature of the regulatory relationship with FGF signaling. In chick embryos, Sef is expressed in a pattern that coincides with many known sites of FGF signaling. In the developing limb, cSef is expressed in the mesoderm underlying the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) in the region known as the progress zone. cSef message first appeared after limb budding and AER formation. Expression was intense at stages of rapid limb outgrowth, and gradually decreased to almost undetectable levels when differentiation was clearly apparent. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments showed that FGFs differentially regulate the expression of cSef in various tissues. Thus, removal of the AER down-regulated cSef expression, and FGF2 but not FGF4 or FGF8 beads substituted for the AER in maintaining cSef expression. At sites where cSef is not normally expressed, FGF4 and FGF2, but not FGF8 beads, induced cSef expression. Our results demonstrate the complexity of cSef regulation by FGFs and point to FGF2 as a prime candidate in regulating cSef expression during normal limb development. The spatiotemporal pattern of cSef expression during limb development suggests a role for cSef in regulating limb outgrowth but not limb initiation. Developmental Dynamics 233:301,312, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Does Host Value Influence Female Aggressiveness, Contest Outcome and Fitness Gain in Parasitoids?ETHOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Marlene Goubault Intraspecific competition for resources is common in animals and may lead to physical contests. Contest outcomes and aggressiveness can be influenced by the resource holding potential of contestants but also by their perception of the resource value (RV). Competitors may assess resource quality directly (real RV) but may also estimate it according to their physiological status and their experience of the habitat quality (subjective RV). In this article, we studied contests between females of the solitary parasitoid Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae Rondani (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) when exploiting simultaneously a host, a Delia radicum L. (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) pupa. We tested the effect of factors modifying host value on the occurrence of agonistic behaviours, contest outcomes and host exploitation. The factors tested were: the quality of the previous habitat experienced by females, female egg load, host parasitism status and the stage reached by the owner female in her behavioural oviposition sequence. Females successfully protected their host against intruders during its exploitation, but not after oviposition, and their aggressiveness did not seem to be influenced by their perception of the RV. The fact that the host is subsequently parasitized by the opponent females appears to mainly depend on the host selectiveness of females. [source] Integrative approach for prioritizing cancer genes in sporadic colon cancer,GENES, CHROMOSOMES AND CANCER, Issue 11 2009James F. Reid The current multistep carcinogenesis models of colon cancer do not fully capture the genetic heterogeneity of the disease, which is additionally complicated by the presence of passenger and driver genetic alterations. The aim of this study was to select in the context of this significant heterogeneity additional genes functionally related to colon cancer development. High-throughput copy number and gene expression data of 36 microsatellite stable sporadic colon cancers resected from patients of a single institution characterized for mutations in APC, KRAS, TP53 and loss of 18q were analyzed. Genes whose expression correlated with the underlying copy number pattern were selected, and their association with the above listed mutations and overall survival was evaluated. Gain of 20q was strongly associated with TP53 mutation, and overall survival with alterations on 7p, 8p, 13q, 18q, and 20q. An association with 18q loss and gain of 8q24 was also observed. New candidate genes with a potential role in colon cancer are PLCG1 on 20q, DBC1 on 8q21, and NDGR1 on 8p24. In addition, an unexpected pattern of loss and mutability was found in the region upstream of the KRAS gene. By integrating copy number alterations with gene expression and mutations in colon cancer associated genes, we have developed a strategy that identifies previously known molecular features and additional players in the molecular landscape of colon cancer. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Gain of a region on 7p22.3, containing MAD1L1, is the most frequent event in small-cell lung cancer cell linesGENES, CHROMOSOMES AND CANCER, Issue 1 2006Bradley P. Coe Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive lung neoplasm, which accounts for 20% of yearly lung cancer cases. The lack of knowledge of the progenitor cell type for SCLC precludes the definition of a normal gene expression profile and has hampered the identification of gene expression changes, while the low resolution of conventional genomic screens such as comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and loss of heterozygosity analysis limit our ability to fine-map genetic alterations. The recent advent of whole genome tiling path array CGH enables profiling of segmental DNA copy number gains and losses at a resolution 100 times that of conventional methods. Here we report the analysis of 14 SCLC cell lines and six matched normal B-lymphocyte lines. We detected 7p22.3 copy number gain in 13 of the 14 SCLC lines and 0 of the 6 matched normal lines. In 4 of the 14 cell lines, this gain is present as a 350 kbp gene specific copy number gain centered at MAD1L1 (the human homologue of the yeast gene MAD1). Fluorescence in situ hybridization validated the array CGH finding. Intriguingly, MAD1L1 has been implicated to have tumor-suppressing functions. Our data suggest a more complex role for this gene, as MAD1L1 is the most frequent copy number gain in SCLC cell lines. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Gain of function of Tbx1 affects pharyngeal and heart development in the mouseGENESIS: THE JOURNAL OF GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2009Francesca Vitelli Abstract Mammalian development is highly sensitive to Tbx1 gene dosage reduction. Gene function insights can also be learned from increased or ectopic expression. The authors generated a novel mouse transgenic line, named COET, which expresses Tbx1 upon Cre-mediated recombination. The authors crossed this transgenic line with Tbx1Cre animals to activate expression in the Tbx1 -expression domain. Compound mutant COET;Tbx1Cre/+ animals died after birth and showed heart enlargement. At E18.5, compound mutants showed ventricular septal defects and thymic abnormalities. The authors crossed compound mutants into a Tbx1 null background to understand whether this phenotype is caused by gene overdosage. Results showed that gene dosage reduction at the endogenous locus could not rescue heart and thymic defects, although the transgene rescued the loss of function phenotype. Thus, the transgenic phenotype appears to be due to gain of function. Resultant data demonstrate that Tbx1 expression must be tightly regulated to be compatible with normal embryonic development. genesis 47:188,195, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Efficient Photosensitization and High Optical Gain in a Novel Quantum-Dot-Sensitized Hybrid Photorefractive Nanocomposite at a Telecommunications Wavelength,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 5 2005Choudhury, K. Roy Abstract A high-performance hybrid polymeric photorefractive nanocomposite operating at the telecommunications wavelength of 1.34,,m is presented. The photorefractive nanocomposite is sensitized with PbS nanocrystals synthesized via a hot colloidal route. Photoconductivity experiments confirm and quantify the photocharge-generation quantum efficiency of the nanocrystals. A pronounced two-beam coupling effect at the operation wavelength is observed, leading to very high optical gains. Temporal evolution of the photorefractive growth process is also studied. [source] The human hippocampus at 7 T,In vivo MRIHIPPOCAMPUS, Issue 1 2009Jens M. Theysohn Abstract The human hippocampus plays a central role in various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), Alzheimer's dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and schizophrenia. Its volume, morphology, inner structure, and function are of scientific and clinical interest. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a widely employed tool in neuroradiological workup regarding changes in brain anatomy, (sub-) volumes, and cerebral function including the hippocampus. Gain in intrinsic MR signal provided by higher field strength scanners and concomitant improvements in spatial resolution seem highly valuable. An examination protocol permitting complete, high-resolution imaging of the human hippocampus at 7 T was implemented. Coronal proton density, T2, T2*, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery contrasts were acquired as well as an isotropic 3D magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo (500 ,m isotropic voxel dimension, noninterpolated). Observance of energy deposition restrictions within acceptable scan times remained challenging in the acquisition of thin, spin-echo-based sections. At the higher resolution enabled by 7 T, demarcation of the hippocampus and some internal features including gray/white matter differentiation and depiction of the hippocampal mantle becomes much more viable when compared with 1.5 T; thus, in the future, this imaging technology might help in the diagnosis of subtle hippocampal changes. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Exciton,Exciton Interaction and Optical Gain in Colloidal CdSe/CdS Dot/Rod NanocrystalsADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 48 2009Michele Saba Exciton,exciton interaction in dot/rod CdSe/CdS nanocrystals has proved to be very sensitive to the shape of nanocrystals, due to the unique band alignment between CdSe and CdS. Repulsive exciton,exciton interaction is demonstrated, which makes CdSe/CdS dot/rods promising gain media for solution-processable lasers, with projected pump threshold densities below 1 kW cm,2 for continuous wave lasing. [source] Influence of Self-Affirmation on Responses to Gain- Versus Loss-Framed Antismoking MessagesHUMAN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH, Issue 4 2010Xiaoquan Zhao Self-affirmation has been shown to reduce biased processing of threatening health messages. In this study, the impact of self-affirmation on college smokers' reactions to gain- versus loss-framed antismoking public service announcements (PSAs) was examined. A consistent pattern of interaction was observed wherein self-affirmation produced more favorable responses to loss-framed PSAs and more unfavorable responses to gain-framed PSAs. Self-affirmation also reduced smoking intention in the loss frame condition and increased antismoking self-efficacy across framing conditions. These findings are discussed in light of previous research linking self-affirmation to increased message scrutiny. L'influence de l'affirmation de soi sur les réactions aux messages anti-tabac cadrés autour du gain ou de la perte Xiaoquan Zhao & Xiaoli Nan Il a été démontré que l'affirmation de soi réduit le traitement biaisé des messages menaçants concernant la santé. Dans cette étude, l'impact de l'affirmation de soi sur les réactions des étudiants universitaires fumeurs face à des messages d'intérêt public anti-tabac cadrés autour du gain ou de la perte a été examiné. Une tendance régulière d'interaction a été observée, selon laquelle l'affirmation de soi produisait des réactions plus favorables aux messages cadrés autour de la perte et des réactions plus défavorables aux messages cadrés autour du gain. L'affirmation de soi a également réduit l'intention de fumer dans les conditions de cadrage autour de la perte et a augmenté l'efficacité anti-tabac dans toutes les conditions de cadrage. Ces résultats sont commentés à la lumière de la recherche antérieure observant un lien entre l'affirmation de soi et une augmentation de l'examen attentif des messages. Der Einfluss von Selbstbestätigung auf die Reaktionen zu gewinn- vs. verlustgerahmten Anti-Raucher-Botschaften Xiaoquan Zhao & Xiaoli Nan Bislang konnte gezeigt werden, dass Selbstbestätigung eine voreingenommene Verarbeitung von bedrohlichen Gesundheitsbotschaften vermindert. In dieser Studie untersuchten wir den Einfluss von Selbstbestätigung auf die Reaktionen auf gewinn- vs. verlustgerahmte Anti-Raucher-Public Service Botschaften an einer Population von Universitätsstudierenden. Es zeigte sich ein konsistentes Interaktionsmuster in der Form, dass Selbstbestätigung zu stärker befürwortenden Reaktionen auf verlustgerahmte Botschaften führte und zu stärker ablehnenden Reaktionen auf gewinngerahmte Botschaften. Selbstbestätigung verminderte die Rauchintention in der verlustgerahmten Kondition und erhöhte die Anti-Rauchen-Selbstwirksamkeit für beide Frames. Diese Ergebnisse werden mit Blick auf bestehende Forschung zu Selbstbestätigung und erhöhter Botschaftswahrnehmung diskutiert. La Influencia de la Auto-Afirmación en las Respuestas a los Encuadres de Ganancia Versus de Pérdida de los Mensajes Anti-Tabaco Xiaoquan Zhao & Xiaoli Nan Department of Communication, George Mason University Resumen Se ha demostrado que la auto-afirmación reduce el procesamiento tendencioso de los mensajes de salud amenazantes. En este estudio, el impacto de la auto-afirmación en las reacciones de los estudiantes universitarios fumadores a los encuadres de ganancia- versus de pérdida de los anuncios de servicios públicos (PSA) anti-tabaco AQ1 fueron examinados. Una pauta consistente de interacción fue observada donde la auto-afirmación produjo respuestas más favorables a los PSA de encuadres de pérdida y respuestas más desfavorables a los encuadres de ganancia de los PSA. La auto-afirmación redujo también la intención de fumar en la condición de encuadre de pérdida e incrementó la auto-eficacia anti-tabaco a través de las condiciones de encuadre. Los hallazgos son discutidos a la luz de la investigación previa conectando a la auto-afirmación con el incremento del escrutinio del mensaje. [source] Cutaneous type adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma is a characteristic subtype and includes erythema/papule and nodule/tumor subgroupsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 6 2010Tomoko Miyata Abstract We first analyzed the genomic profile of cutaneous type adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) in an attempt to clarify its clinical and biological characteristics. Genomic gains of 1p, 7q and 18q and loss of 13q were frequently detected. Gain of 1p36.33-32 or loss of 13q33.1-3 indicated poor prognosis. Among cases with generalized lesions, erythema/papule or nodule/tumor cases showed a distinct genomic profile, indicating that these 2 groups were biologically different and developed via different genetic pathways. Furthermore, cases with generalized nodule/tumor lesions tended to progress to aggressive ATLL. [source] A new multiparameter assay to assess HPV 16/18, viral load and physical status together with gain of telomerase genes in HPV-related cancersINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 4 2010Wendy Theelen Abstract Oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most important risk factor for cancer of the uterine cervix and a subgroup of head and neck cancers. Viral load has been associated with persistence of infection, whereas integration of HPV into the host cell genome is associated with transition to invasive disease. Viral integration is frequently correlated with loss of viral E2 and gain of the telomerase-related genes TERC and TERT. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid and sensitive multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) assay for the simultaneous analysis of viral load, integration and copy number gain of TERC and TERT in HPV16/18-associated lesions. The performance of the assay was tested for HPV vs. human gene copy number ratios ranging from 0.1 to 100 and for percentages of integration ranging from 0 to 100%. The model systems used include plasmid mixtures and the HPV-positive cell lines SiHa, HeLa and CaSki described to contain a range of 2,600 viral copies per cell. In samples with low-viral load, viral integration can be reliably determined when more than 30% of the virus is integrated. Gain of the telomerase-related genes in the cell lines as determined by our MLPA assay was in accordance with data reported in the literature. Our study demonstrates that within a single MLPA-reaction viral type, load, integration and gain of TERC and TERT can be reliably determined, which will improve risk assessment for patients suspected for HPV infection. [source] Gain,bandwidth limitations of microwave transistorINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RF AND MICROWAVE COMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERING, Issue 6 2002Filiz Güne Abstract This work enables one to obtain the potential gain (GT) characteristics with the associated source (ZS) and load (ZL) termination functions, depending upon the input mismatching (Vi), noise (F), and the device operation parameters, which are the configuration type (CT), bias conditions (VDS, IDS), and operation frequency (f). All these functions can straightforwardly provide the following main properties of the device for use in the design of microwave amplifiers with optimum performance: the extremum gain functions (GT max, GT min) and their associated ZS, ZL terminations for the Vi and F couple and the CT, VDS, IDS, and f operation parameters of the device point by point; all the compatible performance (F, voltage,standing wave ratio Vi, GT) triplets within the physical limits of the device, which are F , Fmin, Vi , 1, GT min , GT , GT max, together with their ZS, ZL termination functions; and the potential operation frequency bandwidth for a selected performance (F, Vi, GT) triplet. The selected performance triplet and termination functions can be realized together with their potential operation bandwidth using the novel amplifier design techniques. Many examples are presented for the potential gain characteristics of the chosen low-noise or ordinary types of transistor. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 12, 483,495, 2002. Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mmce.10049 [source] Childhood Fractures Are Associated With Decreased Bone Mass Gain During Puberty: An Early Marker of Persistent Bone Fragility?,JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2006Serge L Ferrari MD Abstract Whether peak bone mass is low among children with fractures remains uncertain. In a cohort of 125 girls followed over 8.5 years, 42 subjects reported 58 fractures. Among those, BMC gain at multiple sites and vertebral bone size at pubertal maturity were significantly decreased. Hence, childhood fractures may be markers of low peak bone mass acquisition and persistent skeletal fragility. Introduction: Fractures in childhood may result from a deficit in bone mass accrual during rapid longitudinal growth. Whether low bone mass persists beyond this period however remains unknown. Materials and Methods: BMC at the spine, radius, hip, and femur diaphysis was prospectively measured over 8.5 years in 125 girls using DXA. Differences in bone mass and size between girls with and without fractures were analyzed using nonparametric tests. The contribution of genetic factors was evaluated by mother-daughter correlations and that of calcium intake by Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Fifty-eight fractures occurred in 42 among 125 girls (cumulative incidence, 46.4%), one-half of all fractures affecting the forearm and wrist. Girls with and without fractures had similar age, height, weight. and calcium intake at all time-points. Before and during early puberty, BMC and width of the radius diaphysis was lower in the fracture compared with no-fracture group (p < 0.05), whereas aBMD and BMAD were similar in the two groups. At pubertal maturity (Tanner's stage 5, mean age ± SD, 16.4 ± 0.5 years), BMC at the ultradistal radius (UD Rad.), femur trochanter, and lumbar spine (LS), and LS projected bone area were all significantly lower in girls with fractures. Throughout puberty, BMC gain at these sites was also decreased in the fracture group (LS, ,8.0%, p = 0.015; UD Rad., ,12.0%, p = 0.004; trochanter, ,8.4%, p = 0.05 versus no fractures). BMC was highly correlated between prepuberty and pubertal maturity (R = 0.54,0.81) and between mature daughters and their mothers (R = 0.32,0.46). Calcium intake was not related to fracture risk. Conclusions: Girls with fractures have decreased bone mass gain in the axial and appendicular skeleton and reduced vertebral bone size when reaching pubertal maturity. Taken together with the evidence of tracking and heritability for BMC, these observations indicate that childhood fractures may be markers for low peak bone mass and persistent bone fragility. [source] Hormone Replacement Therapy Dissociates Fat Mass and Bone Mass, and Tends to Reduce Weight Gain in Early Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled 5-Year Clinical Trial of the Danish Osteoporosis Prevention Study,JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2003LB Jensen MD Abstract The aim of this study was to study the influence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on weight changes, body composition, and bone mass in early postmenopausal women in a partly randomized comprehensive cohort study design. A total of 2016 women ages 45,58 years from 3 months to 2 years past last menstrual bleeding were included. One thousand were randomly assigned to HRT or no HRT in an open trial, whereas the others were allocated according to their preferences. All were followed for 5 years for body weight, bone mass, and body composition measurements. Body weight increased less over the 5 years in women randomized to HRT (1.94 ± 4.86 kg) than in women randomized to no HRT (2.57 ± 4.63, p = 0.046). A similar pattern was seen in the group receiving HRT or not by their own choice. The smaller weight gain in women on HRT was almost entirely caused by a lesser gain in fat. The main determinant of the weight gain was a decline in physical fitness. Women opting for HRT had a significantly lower body weight at inclusion than the other participants, but the results in the self-selected part of the study followed the pattern found in the randomized part. The change in fat mass was the strongest predictor of bone changes in untreated women, whereas the change in lean body mass was the strongest predictor when HRT was given. Body weight increases after the menopause. The gain in weight is related to a decrease in working capacity. HRT is associated with a smaller increase in fat mass after menopause. Fat gain protects against bone loss in untreated women but not in HRT-treated women. The data suggest that women's attitudes to HRT are more positive if they have low body weight, but there is no evidence that the conclusions in this study are skewed by selection bias. [source] Good Maintenance of Exercise-Induced Bone Gain with Decreased Training of Female Tennis and Squash Players: A Prospective 5-Year Follow-Up Study of Young and Old Starters and ControlsJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2001Saija Kontulainen Abstract This prospective 5-year follow-up study of 64 adult female racquet sports players and 27 controls assessed the changes in the playing-to-nonplaying arm bone mineral content (BMC) differences to answer three questions: (1) Are training-induced bone gains lost with decreased training? (2) Is the bone response to decreased training different if the playing career has been started before or at puberty rather than after it? (3) Are the possible bone changes related to the changes in training? The players were divided into two groups according to the starting age of their tennis or squash playing. The mean starting age was 10.5 years (SD, 2.2) among the players who had started training before or at menarche (young starters; n = 36) while 26.4 years (SD, 8.0) among those players who had begun training a minimum of 1 year after menarche (old starters; n = 28). At baseline of the 5-year follow-up, the mean age of the young starters was 21.6 years (SD, 7.6) and that of old starters was 39.4 years (SD, 10.5). During the follow-up, the young starters had reduced the average training frequency from 4.7 times a week (2.7) to 1.4 times a week (1.3) and the old starters from 4.0 times a week (1.4) to 2.0 times a week (1.4), respectively. The 5-year follow-up revealed that despite reduced training the exercise-induced bone gain was well maintained in both groups of players regardless of their clearly different starting age of activity and different amount of exercise-induced bone gain. The gain was still 1.3,2.2 times greater in favor of the young starters (at the follow-up, the dominant-to-nondominant arm BMC difference was 22% [8.4] in the humeral shaft of the young starters versus 10% [3.8] in the old starters, and 3.5% [2.4] in controls). In the players, changes in training were only weakly related to changes in the side-to-side BMC difference (rs = 0.05,0.34, all NS), and this was true even among the players who had stopped training completely a minimum 1 year before the follow-up. In conclusion, if controlled interventions will confirm our findings that an exercise-induced bone gain can be well maintained with decreased activity and that the maintenance of the bone gain is independent of the starting age of activity, exercise can be recommended for preventing osteoporosis and related fractures. [source] Exercise, Dietary Calcium, and Bone Gain in Girls and Young Adult WomenJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 8 2000John J. B. Anderson No abstract is available for this article. [source] Skp2 and p27kip1 expression in melanocytic nevi and melanoma: an inverse relationship,JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 10 2004Qing Li Background:, S-phase kinase associated protein-2 (Skp2) ubiquitin ligase p45SKP2 is important in the degradation of p27kip1 (a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor) and progression through the G1-S cell-cycle checkpoint. Low levels of p27 and high levels of Skp2 are related to poor prognosis in some cancers. Methods:, Clinicopathologic features and immunohistochemical expression of Skp2 and p27kip1 were investigated in 198 melanocytic proliferations: 21 melanocytic nevi, 23 melanoma in situ, 119 primary melanoma, and 35 metastatic melanoma samples. Comparative and survival analyses were performed. Results:, Progressive and significant increases and decreases in the nuclear expression of Skp2 and p27kip1, respectively, was identified moving from melanocytic nevi (0.05 ± 0.2/85 ± 15) to melanoma in situ (3 ± 2/45 ± 20) to primary cutaneous melanoma (12 ± 9/30 ± 25) to metastatic melanoma (25 ± 15/15 ± 20) (p , 0.006). Expression of these proteins also significantly correlated with increasing American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) T (tumor) classification and AJCC stage (p , 0.01). Moreover, the level of these two proteins exhibited a significant inverse relationship (r = ,0.4, p = 0.0001). Skp2 cytoplasmic labeling index of >20% predicted worse 10-year overall survival (38% vs. 86%, p = 0.04) in primary melanoma. Neither p27 nor Skp2 nuclear expression impacted significantly on prognosis. Conclusions:, Gain of Skp2 and loss of p27kip1 protein expression are implicated in melanoma progression where the level of p27kip1 may be regulated by targeted proteolysis via Skp2. Cytoplasmic expression of Skp2 defines a subset of aggressive melanomas and could represent another pathway of deregulation of the cell cycle. [source] The Long-Term Effects of Feeding Honey Compared with Sucrose and a Sugar-Free Diet on Weight Gain, Lipid Profiles, and DEXA Measurements in RatsJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 1 2008L. Chepulis ABSTRACT:, To determine whether honey and sucrose would have differential effects on weight gain during long-term feeding, 45 2-mo-old Sprague Dawley rats were fed a powdered diet that was either sugar-free or contained 7.9% sucrose or 10% honey ad libitum for 52 wk (honey is 21% water). Weight gain was assessed every 1 to 2 wk and food intake was measured every 2 mo. At the completion of the study blood samples were removed for measurement of blood sugar (HbA1c) and a fasting lipid profile. DEXA analyses were then performed to determine body composition and bone mineral densities. Overall weight gain and body fat levels were significantly higher in sucrose-fed rats and similar for those fed honey or a sugar-free diet. HbA1c levels were significantly reduced, and HDL-cholesterol significantly increased, in honey-fed compared with rats fed sucrose or a sugar free diet, but no other differences in lipid profiles were found. No differences in bone mineral density were observed between honey- and sucrose-fed rats, although it was significantly increased in honey-fed rats compared with those fed the sugar-free diet. [source] The Effect of Honey Compared to Sucrose, Mixed Sugars, and a Sugar-Free Diet on Weight Gain in Young RatsJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007L.M. Chepulis ABSTRACT:, To determine whether honey, sucrose, and mixed sugars as in honey have different effects on weight gain, 40 6-wk-old Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a powdered diet that was either sugar free or contained 8% sucrose, 8% mixed sugars as in honey, or 10% honey freely for 6 wk. Weight gain and food intake were assessed weekly, and at completion of the study blood samples were removed for measurement of blood sugar (HbA1c) and a fasting lipid profile. The animals were then minced and total percentage body fat and protein measured. Overall percentage weight gain was significantly lower in honey-fed rats than those fed sucrose or mixed sugars, despite a similar food intake. Weight gains were comparable for rats fed honey and a sugar free diet although food intake was significantly higher in honey-fed rats. HbA1c and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in all sugar treatments compared with rats fed a sugar free diet, but no other differences in lipid profiles were reported. No differences in percentage body fat or protein levels were reported. [source] Effects of Brining Conditions on Weight Gain in Herring (Clupea harengus) FilletsJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 7 2005Sveinung Birkeland ABSTRACT: Salted herring is an important product category in many European countries. Reduced need for salt as a preserving agent and the increased emphasis on less salt in the human diet has changed the basis for the traditional processing of these products. This has led to significant changes in the processing conditions and in the characteristics of the salted products. In this perspective, the effects of different brine concentrations (10.0%, 16.5%, and 25.5%), brining temperatures (3.5 °C and 17.5 °C), the presence of skin or not on the fillets, and brining time (1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 d) were investigated on the weight gain (%) and final salt content (%) of herring (Clupea harengus). A significant (P < 0.001) higher weight gain of the fillets were observed at the lowest brining temperature (3.5 °C) compared with at the higher temperature (17.5 °C), independently of brine concentration and brining time. Increased brine concentration and skinning of the fillets caused the weight gain to significantly decrease (P < 0.001) and increase (P < 0.001), respectively. After 1 d of brining, the weight gain was in the range of 10% to 12% for both brining temperatures, and at the lowest temperature, the weight gain increased significantly (P < 0.001) as a function of brining time. At the higher temperature, no further significant increase in weight was observed from 1 to 7 d of brining. It is concluded that the weight gain in herring fillets brined according to the present commercial practice is significantly affected by temperature, brine concentration, brining time, and the presence or not of skin on the fillets and that the weight gain may be of high magnitude. [source] A classification of computer security incidents based on reported attack dataJOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND OFFENDER PROFILING, Issue 2 2005Maria Kjaerland Abstract Previous studies of computer criminals have attempted to differentiate between offenders, but have not used data from the actual attacks. Drawing on theories from investigative psychology as well as information security, the current study differentiates 2755 computer security incidents using information about Method of Operation (MO), Impact, and Source Sector from reported attacks. Multivariate statistical analyses were applied on the data-matrix of 22 variables and showed the co-occurrences of various aspects of computer security incidents. A radex structure emerged where the high frequency variables were positioned in the centre of the data-plot. Based on a previously developed taxonomy of cyber intrusions, the results of the analysis showed that it was possible to draw inferences about the less informative category of Objective, from information about Attacker, Tools, Access, and Results. By applying the division-lines indicating the Objectives of Challenge/Status, Destruction, Political Gain and Financial Gain on the SSA-plot, it was shown how the taxonomies could be further developed by taking into account the relationships between the categories. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||