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Objective: To examine if there were changes in the proportion of hardcore smokers and factors associated with hardcore smoking before and after implementation of smoke-free legislation, and warning labels on cigarette packets in Hong Kong in January 2007. Study design: Repeated cross-sectional surveys of the general population in Hong Kong. Methods: Data from all daily smokers aged ⩾15 years in the population-based Thematic Household Surveys from 2005 (n = 3740) and 2008 (n = 2958) were used to estimate the prevalence of hardcore smokers before and after implementation of smoke-free legislation. A logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with hardcore smoking, and to examine if there were any changes in their associations with the likelihood of hardcore smoking after implementation of smoke-free legislation. Results: The proportion of hardcore smokers among current daily smokers increased significantly from 22.5% [95% confidence interval (Cl) 21.1-23.8%] in 2005 to 28.3% (95% Cl 26.7-29.9%) in 2008. Change in the strength of the association of hardcore smoking with three factors was observed. The strength of the association between hardcore smoking and 'necessity in social functions' [odds ratio (OR) 0.54, 95% Cl 0.31-0.95) and 'necessity for killing time' (OR 0.56, 95% Cl 0.36-0.89) decreased, while the association between hardcore smoking and 'necessity as refreshment' increased (OR 3.02, 95% Cl 1.43-6.39) after implementation of smoke-free legislation and warning labels on cigarette packets. 'Smoking had become a habit' was the factor associated most strongly with hardcore smoking (OR 4.88, 95% Cl 4.02-5.93). Conclusions: The proportion of hardcore smokers remained stable in Hong Kong from 2005 to 2008. While the implementation of the two tobacco control measures may have provided an environment to reduce social smoking in hardcore smokers, addiction appeared to be the most important factor associated with hardcore smoking. More effective and tailormade cessation services that target this group of smokers are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria are organelles known primarily for generating ATP via the oxidative phosphorylation process. Environmental signals are sensed by whole organisms or cells and markedly affect this process, leading to alterations in gene transcription and, consequently, changes in mitochondrial function and biogenesis. The expression of mitochondrial genes is finely regulated by nuclear transcription factors, including nuclear receptors and their coregulators. Among the best-known coregulators is the nuclear receptor corepressor 1 (NCoR1). Muscle-specific knockout of NCoR1 in mice induces an oxidative phenotype, improving glucose and fatty acid metabolism. However, the mechanism by which NCoR1 is regulated remains elusive. In this work, we identified the poly(A)-binding protein 4 (PABPC4) as a new NCoR1 interactor. Unexpectedly, we found that silencing of PABPC4 induced an oxidative phenotype in both C2C12 and MEF cells, as indicated by increased oxygen consumption, mitochondria content, and reduced lactate production. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that PABPC4 silencing increased the ubiquitination and consequent degradation of NCoR1, leading to the derepression of PPAR-regulated genes. As a consequence, cells with PABPC4 silencing had a greater capacity to metabolize lipids, reduced intracellular lipid droplets, and reduced cell death. Interestingly, in conditions known to induce mitochondrial function and biogenesis, both mRNA expression and PABPC4 protein content were markedly reduced. Our study, therefore, suggests that the lowering of PABPC4 expression may represent an adaptive event required to induce mitochondrial activity in response to metabolic stress in skeletal muscle cells. As such, the NCoR1-PABPC4 interface might be a new road to the treatment of metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review provides a theoretical underpinning of previously published definitions of ambidentate, ambivalent and ambiphilic ligands. The study encompasses ambivalent ligands such as NO, NR, N 2 R; ambiphilic molecules such as SO 2 , I 2 and ambiphilic transition metal complexes, e.g. [Pt(PCy 3 ) 2 ]. These ambivalent molecules adopt alternative geometries which depend primarily on the number of electrons which they formally donate or accept. The theoretical analysis focuses initially on those complexes where the same ligand displays ambivalent properties within the same molecule in order to define the energetics of their interconversion. These square-pyramidal complexes provide a test-bed for generating data which throws light on the relative abilities of ambivalent ligands to adopt linear or bent geometries. The ligands were compared with NO and their relative abilities were placed in the following order PO > PH 2 > N 2 H > SO 2 > NO > NH 2 > NS. The linear nitrosyl ligand does not exert a trans -influence and this property has been contrasted with the nitrido-ligand which shows a large trans -influence. The conversion of NO to a non-linear geometry results in a strong trans -influence and this has significant catalytic and biological importance. Calculations on octahedral palladium complexes have been used to order the trans -influences of ambivalent ligands when they adopt their alternative symmetry signatures. The relative trans -influences are NO > PH 2 > NS > N 2 H > NH 2 . The interconversion of linear and bent dinitrosyls provides an interesting inorganic example of valence tautomerism and this is noted as a general characteristic of ambivalent and ambiphilic ligands. The soft energy surface associated with these interconversions leads to the experimentally verified fluxional process. The energetics of adduct formation by ambiphilic ligands has been studied using a series of SO 2 complexes of palladium and platinum and the results contrasted with adducts of SO 2 with main group Lewis acids and bases. The isomers {(PH 3 ) 2 M(SO 2 ) p } 16 and {(PH 3 ) 2 M(SO 2 ) np } 14 are calculated to have very similar energies and the relative stabilities of analogous isomers may be manipulated by varying the bite angle of the phosphine ligands in {[(PH 2 ) 2 C n H 2 n ]M(SO 2 )}. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer and many other chronic diseases are unnecessary. Their occurrence is not mandated by genes passed down to us through thousands of years of evolution. Chronic diseases are not the inevitable lot of humankind. They are the result of the changing pattern of human development. We could readily prevent them, had we the will to do so. Prevention of chronic disease, and an increase in healthy ageing require improvement in the nutrition of girls and young women. Many babies in the womb in the Western world today are receiving unbalanced and inadequate diets. Many babies in the developing world are malnourished because their mothers are chronically malnourished. Protecting the nutrition and health of girls and young women should be the cornerstone of public health. Not only will this prevent chronic disease, but it will produce new generations who have better health and well-being through their lives. a new developmental model for chronic disease in which the causes to be identified are linked to normal variations in fetoplacental and infant development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The implications of the Complementary Spherical Electron Density Model, originally developed by Mingos and Hawes in 1985 and amplified in 2004, to co-ordinatively unsaturated intermediates in homogenous catalytic processes are discussed. The geometric consequences of the model for 16 and 14 electron complexes are particularly important and are supported by numerous recent X-ray crystallographic investigations. The character of the important frontier orbitals have been explored using density functional calculations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The reactions between silver(I) salts and tert-butylacetylene in the presence of different anions (i.e. F−, Cl−, Br−, BF4− Tos− and NO3−) are reported. When fluoride, chloride or bromide salts are present, AgBF4 reacts with tert-butylacetylene to yield the rhombic dodecahedral silver-alkynyl cages [Ag14(C&z.tbnd6;CtBu)12X][BF4] (X=Cl, 1; Br, 2; F, 3). The crystal structure of the fluoride-containing cage is presented in this paper and compared to the previously reported structures of the chloride and bromide-containing cages. In the three structures, the silver atoms are held together by a combination of bridging alkynyl groups and Ag⋯Ag metallophilic interactions. A remarkable feature in the syntheses of these cages is the templating role played by the halide anions. Solution IR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry experiments have demonstrated that the cage structure of compounds 1–3 is retained in solution. When AgTos (Tos=p-toluenesulfonate) and AgNO3 are reacted with tert-butylacetylene (in the absence of halides) the formation of the organometallic polymers [Ag3(C&z.tbnd6;CtBu)2X]n (X=Tos, 4; NO3, 5) is observed. The crystal structure of 4 is here reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Against the background of the recent trend towards ever larger wind turbines at higher hub heights, this contribution determines the total technical potential and associated costs for electricity generation in Europe with large turbines, based on a GIS-based methodology employing cost-potential curves. For the EU28 and Europe technical potentials of 15 PWh/a and 20 PWh/a are determined respectively, with associated LCOEs (Levelized Costs of Electricity) of between 6 and 50 €ct/kWh and large variations between countries: the largest potentials and lowest generation costs are to be found in the UK, Poland and Sweden. The approximate required investment to meet national 2020 targets based on the National Renewable Energy Action Plans is estimated based on the model results. A comparison with the results of other studies shows significant deviations in the results, most of which can be explained through the differences in input parameters, and a comparison of the obtained results for Germany with those from a previous study under the same assumptions produced very similar results with a deviation of about 10%. A sensitivity analysis showed that the results are only moderately sensitive to the assumed discount rate as well as the size of turbines available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article cites a study which associates low birth weight to a range of chronic diseases, presented as part of the symposium entitled "Novel Concepts in the Developmental Origins of Adult Health and Disease," at the 2006 Experimental Biology meeting on April 2, 2006 in San Francisco, California. The study reveals that low birth weight affects the development of chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. It also stresses that malnutrition have profound long-term effects.

A cyclical changeover design experiment (3-wk periods; 12-wk total) was conducted to evaluate whether improving the balance of absorbable AA would allow the feeding of less crude protein (CP) without compromising production, thereby reducing the potential environmental pollution from dairy farms. Sixteen multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to 1 of 8 dietary treatments as total mixed rations (TMR) containing [dry matter (DM) basis] 45% corn silage, 5% coarsely chopped wheat straw, and 50% concentrate mixture. The 8 treatments were formulated to differ in dietary CP (14 and 16%; DM basis) and in the balance of absorbable AA achieved by changing the main protein source (MPS) of the concentrate mixtures [replacing soybean meal (SBM) with corn byproducts (CBP), dried corn distillers grains (DDG), and some corn gluten meal], and by adding a mixture of rumen-protected Lys and Met (RPLM). Feeding lactating dairy cows corn silage-based diets with 16% CP promoted significantly higher DM intakes and milk yields, and lower feed N-use efficiency than feeding diets with 14% CP. Replacing SBM with CBP significantly increased milk yields and decreased milk fat and protein concentrations, but had no effect on the efficiency of conversion of feed N into milk N. With 16% CP diets, the addition of RPLM decreased feed N use efficiency. A significant effect was observed for the MPS x RPLM interaction on milk protein concentrations. Plasma Lys concentration was lower with diets based on CBP, and plasma Met increased with RPLM. We did not find clear benefits of RPLM in facilitating a reduction of dietary protein without loss of production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-vascular and renal complications in diabetic patients are a considerable clinical challenge. In a previous study, we found a significant decrease in vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) mRNA levels in glomeruli from patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). We now set out to investigate the relationship between reduced VEGF-A and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression levels, the number of podocytes, and the extent of interstitial fibrosis. Laser capture microdissection was applied to obtain glomerular RNA from 28 patients with DN and 22 controls. mRNA levels of VEGF-A, CTGF, nephrin, podocin, and Wilms tumor1 (WT1) were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression was evaluated using immuno-stainings for VEGF-A and CTGF, as well as markers for podocytes (WT1) and endothelial cells (CD31). We found a significant decrease in glomerular mRNA levels for VEGF-A (2.5 times), CTGF (1.6), nephrin (2.8), podocin (3.3), and WT1 (1.7) in patients with DN. There was a significant correlation between expression of podocyte markers and VEGF-A mRNA levels, and an inverse correlation between podocin message and the extent of interstitial fibrosis. CD31-positive area was significantly decreased (3.2 times) in patients with DN. Reduction of angiogenic factors correlated with the extent of interstitial fibrosis. This downregulation was related to a reduction of podocytes in DN. The results may suggest that downregulation of VEGF-A and CTGF in DN is a result of podocyte loss.Kidney International (2007) 71, 637–645. doi:10.1038/sj.ki.5002101; published online 31 January 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave heating was applied in the oxidative coupling of methane to higher hydrocarbons over alumina supported La2O3/CeO2 catalysts. It was found that microwave heating had a dramatic effect on the reaction when methane was converted into C2 hydrocarbons in the absence of oxygen, with products produced at measured temperatures about 250 °C lower than those observed with conventional heating. It was shown that the reaction in the absence of oxygen occurred primarily in the gas phase and it was the localised heating of the methane that was responsible for the increased reaction rate. However, it was observed that microwave heating did not produce significant “special microwave effects” which affected the product species formed when the oxidative coupling reaction occurred in the presence of oxygen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The oscillatory behaviour over cobalt wire and foil catalysts was examined at atmospheric pressure under various reaction temperatures and argon/methane/oxygen feed gas compositions for the partial oxidation of methane. Rough and porous oxide layers on the catalyst surface were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The results obtained from the experimental studies indicated that the oscillatory behaviour exhibited during methane oxidation was related to the behaviour of the catalyst surface switching back and forth from the reduced state to the oxidised state. The reduction of the oxide layer followed by the almost immediate re-oxidation of the metal can be accounted for only if the oxide layer formed by oxidation is different from the oxide layer existing during reduction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Oscillatory reactions over palladium foil and wire catalysts during the oxidation of methane have been investigated over a wide range of reaction temperatures and argon/methane/oxygen feed gas compositions. Characterisation of the catalyst has also been carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, which revealed the presence of a porous surface. This suggested that the metal surface has undergone a change since the reaction commenced, and using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) techniques the palladium phase was shown to be the dominant phase present. Hysteresis phenomena were observed in the activity of the reaction as the temperature was cycled up and down, showing that the metal surface was continually changing throughout the reaction. The activation energies of the reaction during the high reactivity mode, PdO, and low reactivity mode, Pd, were also calculated. Oscillation rates were observed to depend on the dominant surface. Oscillations were frequent when the high reactivity mode was dominant while the activation energy of this mode was found to be low. When the low reactivity mode was dominant, the oscillations were slower and the activation energy was three times larger. The results obtained imply that the behaviour of the palladium surface, switching back and forth from the reduced state to the oxidised state, is responsible for the oscillatory behaviour seen in this system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

International food transit is a risk to public and animal health when not subject to legal importation sanitation procedures. Due to the extensive border area, illegal food import in Brazil is a common practice, especially in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), a state that borders with Argentina and Uruguay. The objective of this study was to evaluate the profile of Brazilians living in cities in RS that border with Argentina (BR-AR) or Uruguay (BR-UR) regarding the practice of illegal import of products of animal origin and to determine associations between the population characteristics and illegal import. A questionnaire with information related to the personal profile, habits of acquisition of imported food, and knowledge of health risks deriving from the consumption of the imported products was elaborated. The questionnaire was administered in six cities in RS (three cities bordering Argentina and three cities bordering Uruguay) and responses were obtained from 744 individuals. The variables city, sex, level of education, and knowledge were subjected to the chi-square test to verify the association between these variables and food import. Part of the interviewees admitted to illegally importing products of animal origin at both BR-AR (65.17%) and BR-UR (76.28%) borders. Dairy products were the main imported goods, followed by raw and processed meat. The study revealed that illegal import is common at the frontier region of RS, especially that of products of animal origin, dairy, and raw and processed meat. Although illegal importation occurs at all the cities under study, it was higher at the BR-UR border. Also, knowledge of the health risks influences the decision to import food or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the improvement of the quality of student teachers' lessons in interactive (story)book reading through the use of data-feedback on observed lessons. Variables regarding the optimal time use, the quality of instruction and the student teachers' pedagogical relation with pupils were included in a one group pre-test post-test design. The student teachers were able to improve the quality of their lessons on four of the five variables within a period of five weeks. The application of data-feedback is a promising activity in the training of student teachers. Further research is needed to see whether the same results can be obtained in other topic areas of reading and to draw vast conclusions on the effects of the application of data-feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine whether candiduria is associated with the occurrence of nosocomial candidaemia. In the case-control part of the study, 115 cases (nosocomial candidaemia) and 115 controls (nosocomial bacteraemia) were similar in age, severity of condition and time of hospitalisation. There was a significant association of candidaemia with candiduria (OR 9.79; 95% CI 2.14–44.76). In the microbiology part of the study, 23 pairs of Candida-positive urine and blood cultures were obtained from 23 patients. In ten (43%) cases, the urine and blood culture isolates belonged to different species, and molecular typing showed a difference in two of the 13 cases yielding the same species from both specimens. Overall, there was a significant association between candiduria and candidaemia, but the Candida isolates from urine and blood were different for 52% of the patients. Thus, the data indicated that the urinary tract was probably not a source for the candidaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The oscillatory behaviour during the complete/partial oxidation of methane over a range of metal catalysts has been reviewed, including palladium, cobalt, nickel and nickel/chromium alloy. Emphasis has been placed on the understanding of the mechanism of the rate oscillations over catalyst surfaces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: ObjectiveThis study describes the clinical features, management, and outcome of 19 patients who had severe Acanthamoeba sclerokeratitis (ASK) unresponsive to conventional management, requiring systemic immunosuppression to control disease.: DesignRetrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.: ParticipantsRecords of all patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis treated at Moorfields Eye Hospital between 1989 and 2000 were reviewed. From more than 200 patients, 19 who developed ASK treated with systemic immunosuppression were identified.: Main outcome measuresVisual acuity, level of pain, and degree of inflammation were recorded after immunosuppressive treatment.: ResultsASK requiring immunosuppression occurred in 20 eyes of 19 patients (11 males and 8 females). The mean age (mean ± standard deviation) at onset was 38.6 ± 13.2 years. On presentation, best-corrected visual acuity was counting fingers or worse in 11 eyes (55%), 6/18 to 6/60 in 5 eyes (25%), and 6/12 or better in 4 eyes (20%). The mean time between onset of initial symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis and commencement of systemic immunosuppression was 4.8 ± 3.5 months. The mean duration of immunosuppression required to control inflammation was 7.2 ± 3.9 months. Severe scleritic pain remained uncontrolled in two patients and resulted in enucleation. Best-corrected visual acuity at final follow-up was counting fingers or worse in eight eyes (40%), 6/18 to 6/60 in six eyes (30%), and 20/40 or better in six eyes (30%). The mean follow-up period after resolution of inflammation was 24.3 ± 20.9 months (range, 0.2–59.7 months).: ConclusionsASK is an uncommon complication of Acanthamoeba keratitis. The scleritis associated with this infection seems to be an immune-mediated response. After topical amebicidal treatment, systemic immunosuppression may be required to control the pain and tissue destruction associated with ASK. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article examines the presence of Rickettsia in Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks in a Brazilian spotted fever endemic rural area in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is one of the life-threatening zoonotic tick-borne disease, which is transmitted to humans after the bite of infected ticks. BSF is also considered as one of the most common rickettsial diseases in Brazil.