Investigating the prevalence of low energy availability, disordered eating and eating disorders in competitive and recreational female endurance runners.

Eating disorders (ED), disordered eating (DE) and low energy availability (LEA) can be detrimental to health and performance. Previous studies have independently investigated the prevalence of ED, DE or LEA; however, limited studies have combined methods identifying risk within female runners. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of ED, DE and LEA in United Kingdom-based female runners and associations between age, competition level and running distance. The Female Athlete Screening Tool (FAST) and Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) were used in a cross-sectional study design. A total of n = 524 responses eligible for analysis were received. A total of n = 248 (47.3%), n = 209 (40%) and n = 49 (9.4%) athletes were at risk of LEA, DE and ED, respectively. LEAF-Q scores differed based upon age (Age: H(3) = 23.998, p ≤ .05) and competitive level (Comp: H(1) = 7.682, p ≤ .05) whereas FAST scores differed based on age (Age: F(3,523) = 4.753, p ≤ .05). Tukey's post-hoc tests showed significantly higher FAST scores in 18-24 years compared to all other age categories (p ≤ .05). Stepwise multiple regression demonstrated age and competitive level modestly predicted LEAF-Q scores (R2adj = 0.047, F(2,523) = 13.993, p ≤ .05, VIF = 1.0) whereas age modestly predicted FAST scores (R2adj = 0.022, F(1,523) = 12.711, p ≤ .05, VIF = 1.0). These findings suggest early identification, suitable screening methods and educational intervention programmes should be aimed at all levels of female endurance runners.Highlights A total of 524 female endurance completed a self-administered, online questionnaire screening for low energy availability, disordered eating and eating disorders risk.Age and competitive level modestly predicted low energy availability and age modestly predicted disordered eating and eating disorders in female endurance runners.A higher percentage of 18- to 24-year-old female endurance runners were at greater risk of low energy availability, disordered eating and eating disorders compared to other age categories.These findings highlight the need for regular screening in order to aid early interventions to prevent potential decrements in performance and health as endurance runners mature.

Temporal variation and characterization of grunt sounds produced by Atlantic cod Gadus morhua and pollack Pollachius pollachius during the spawning season.

Fine-scale temporal patterning in grunt production and variation in grunt attributes in Atlantic cod Gadus morhua and pollack Pollachius pollachius was examined. Pollachius pollachius produced only a single sound type, the grunt, similar to that previously described for G. morhua. Sound production and egg production were correlated in P. pollachius but not in G. morhua. Only G. morhua displayed a strongly cyclical pattern, producing more grunts at night. Finer-scale temporal patterning in grunt production was observed in both species which produced significantly fewer grunts following a period of high grunt production. These quieter periods lasted up to 45 min for P. pollachius and up to 1 h in G. morhua. Grunts were not always produced in isolation but organized into bouts in both species. Longer bouts were more frequent during periods of increased sound activity and were linked with changes in grunt characteristics including increased grunt duration, pulse duration and repetition period of each pulse combined with decreased dominant frequency. This study provides the first evidence of acoustic signalling being used by spawning P. pollachius and presents the most detailed analysis of the complexity of gadoid sound production.

Target and nontarget effects of novel "triple-stacked" Bt-transgenic cotton 1: canopy arthropod communities.

Transgenic cotton varieties (Bollgard II) expressing two proteins (Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab) from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been widely adopted in Australia to control larvae of Helicoverpa. A triple-stacked Bt-transgenic cotton producing Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab, and Vip3A proteins (Genuity Bollgard III) is being developed to reduce the chance that Helicoverpa will develop resistance to the Bt proteins. Before its introduction, nontarget effects on the agro-ecosystem need to be evaluated under field conditions. By using beatsheet and suction sampling methods, we compared the invertebrate communities of unsprayed non-Bt-cotton, Bollgard II, and Bollgard III in five experiments across three sites in Australia. We found significant differences between invertebrate communities of non-Bt and Bt (Bollgard II and Bollgard III) cotton only in experiments where lepidopteran larval abundance was high. In beatsheet samples where lepidopterans were absent (Bt crops), organisms associated with flowers and bolls in Bt-cotton were more abundant. In suction samples, where Lepidoptera were present (i.e., in non-Bt-cotton), organisms associated with damaged plant tissue and frass were more common. Hence in our study, Bt- and non-Bt-cotton communities only differed when sufficient lepidopteran larvae were present to exert both direct and indirect effects on species assemblages. There was no overall significant difference between Bollgard II and III communities, despite the addition of the Vip gene in Bollgard III. Consequently, the use of Bollgard III in Australian cotton provides additional protection against the development of resistance by Helicoverpa to Bt toxins, while having no additional effect on cotton invertebrate communities.

Undamaged cotton plants yield more if their neighbour is damaged: implications for pest management.

Understanding the compensatory responses of crops to pest damage is important in developing pest thresholds. Compensation for pest damage in crops can occur at the plant level, where the architecture, growth dynamics and allocation patterns of damaged plants are altered, allowing them to recover or, at the crop level, where differential damage between plants may alter plant-to-plant interactions. We investigated growth and yield of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) following non-uniform manual defoliation of seedlings. This partially replicates real pest damage and is valuable in understanding crop-level responses to damage because it can be inflicted precisely. Damage distributions included damaging 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100% of the plants. Damage intensity for the damaged plants was varied by removing 100 or 75% of each true leaf when plants had two, four and six true leaves. At the crop level, yield loss increased as the proportion of plants damaged and intensity of damage per damaged plant increased. Neighbour interactions occurred; undamaged plants with damaged neighbours grew larger and yielded better than undamaged plants with undamaged neighbours, while the converse applied for damaged plants with undamaged neighbours. Neighbour interactions were influenced by the intensity of damage and were stronger when 100% of the leaf area was removed than when 75% was removed. At the crop level, when compared with yield estimates based on yield of plants from uniformly damaged or undamaged plots, these interactions resulted in higher yield than expected (+8%). This suggests that damage distribution may have to be considered in studies where artificial or real pest damage is inflicted uniformly on plants.

Low cost polymer intramedullary nails for fracture fixation: a biomechanical study in a porcine femur model.

INTRODUCTION: Whilst intramedullary nailing is a commonly accepted technique for lower limb fracture fixation, the cost of nails can be prohibitive in hospitals in developing nations. In these institutions bone cement has found many off label applications, that whilst are effective do not meet manufacturers guidelines. The aim of this study was to examine the biomechanics of one such application, fracture fixation using a bone cement intramedullary nail. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five porcine femurs underwent a mid-shaft osteotomy and were fixed using a nail made from antibiotic simplex bone cement. The torsional and flexural stiffness and shear modulus of these constructs were compared to five intact porcine femurs. RESULTS: The bone cement intramedullary nail was able to achieve relative stability in both torsion, with a mean shear modulus of 0.17 GPa and in flexion with a mean flexural stiffness of 358 N/mm. This corresponds to 47 and 22% of the respective measurements in the intact femurs. The mean ultimate flexural strength of fracture/nail constructs was 936 +/- 350 N, which is 20% of the ultimate flexural strength of an intact porcine femur (4,820 +/- 698 N). CONCLUSION: Intramedullary nails made from bone cement were able to provide sufficient promise in this situation to warrant further investigation for their applicability as a low cost alternative for use in developing countries.

Superparamagnetic gadonanotubes are high-performance MRI contrast agents.

We report the nanoscale loading and confinement of aquated Gd3+n-ion clusters within ultra-short single-walled carbon nanotubes (US-tubes); these Gd3+n@US-tube species are linear superparamagnetic molecular magnets with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) efficacies 40 to 90 times larger than any Gd3+-based contrast agent (CA) in current clinical use.

Modelling the spatial distribution of ammonia emissions from seabirds in the UK.

Knowledge of the sources and distribution of ammonia (NH3) emissions underpins our understanding of the nitrogen budget. Research has focused on quantifying NH3 emissions from anthropogenic sources, whilst those from natural sources have received little attention internationally. Seabirds excrete large quantities of nitrogen, making seabird colonies a major natural source of NH3. Ammonia emissions from each UK seabird species were estimated and combined with population distribution data to model their spatial distribution. Total NH3 emissions from UK seabirds were estimated at 2.7 kt per year. Seabird emissions are concentrated in remote parts of the UK where anthropogenic emissions are small, so that seabirds often represent the main source of NH3 emissions in these areas. Seabird NH3 emissions were found to have increased by 34% since the 1970s. This corresponds to population changes which may be influenced by human activities, showing that even this natural source can be anthropogenically modified.

Chlorfenapyr resistance in two-spotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) from Australian cotton.

The responses of Tetranychus urticae Koch from Australian cotton to chlorfenapyr has been monitored since the 1997--1998 growing season. Resistance was first detected in the 2001--2002 season and then increased quickly in both level and proportion of resistant strains detected. In response, the resistance management strategy for chlorfenapyr use in cotton was altered and now recommends a further restriction of use from two to one spray per season. There was no evidence of negative cross-resistance to the pyrethroid bifenthrin, but chlorfenapyr was associated with an undefined negative cross-resistance.

The development of bifenthrin resistance in two-spotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) from Australian cotton.

Bifenthrin (Talstar) was registered at the beginning of the 1993/94 season for control of Helicoverpa spp. and Tetranychus urticae in Australian cotton. Resistance was monitored in T. urticae following registration but despite the implementation of resistance management, resistance evolved in the 1996/97 cotton-growing season after only four seasons use. During the following three seasons resistance increased progressively both in level (from 1.2- to 109-fold at LC50) and abundance (from 20 to 90% strains) and was linked to field control failures. The evolution of resistance has now reduced the reliability of bifenthrin for T. urticae control in Australian cotton. The impact of bifenthrin resistance in T urticae and its continued management in Australian cotton is discussed.

Zn(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Fe(III) complexes of potentially bimetalating tris(pyridine- and imidazole-appended) picket-fence naphthylporphyrins with benzyl ether spacers: implications for cytochrome c oxidase active-site modeling.

Two new unsymmetrical picket-fence naphthylporphyrin ligands, 1 and 2, and several of their metalated porphyrinato complexes have been synthesized as precursor model compounds for the binuclear (Fe/Cu) cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) active site. 1 and 2 have a naphthylporphyrin superstructure that has been specifically incorporated to confer long-term configurational stability to the atropisomeric products. The two picket-fence porphyrin ligands also bear covalently linked, axially offset tris(heterocycle) coordination sites for a copper ion, much like that found in the native enzyme. Monometallic porphyrin complexes [M = Zn(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Fe(III)] of the pyridine-appended ligand 1 have been prepared and spectroscopically and magnetically characterized. An unusual monomeric iron(III) hydroxo porphyrin complex was isolated upon workup of the compound formed under ferrous sulfate/acetic acid reflux conditions. There is general difficulty in forming binuclear complexes of 1, which is attributed to the conformational flexibility of the benzyl ether type picket spacers. The potential of ligands such as 1 and 2 for future CcO active-site modeling studies is considered.

Cross-electron-transfer reactions of the [Cu(II/I)(bite)](2+/+) redox couple.

A series of outer-sphere cross-electron-transfer reactions involving the [Cu(bite)](2+/+) redox couple has been investigated in acetonitrile at 25 degrees C. In this complex, the bite ligand is a macrocyclic N(2)S(2) ligand with a 2,2'-biphenyl moiety as its backbone. The reaction of [Cu(II)(bite)](2+) with [Ru(hfac)(3)](-) produces [Cu(I)(bite)](+) and [Ru(hfac)(3)] reversibly with K = 1.9. The rate law is second order in both directions, with a rate constant of (8.22 +/- 0.27) x 10(2) M(-1) s(-1) in the forward direction. Rate constants were also obtained for the irreversible reactions of three Co(II) clathrochelates with [Cu(bite)](2+). The oxidation of [Cu(bite)](+) by [Fe(bpy)(3)](3+) was studied in order to obtain a rate constant for oxidation as well as reduction. Application of the Marcus cross relationship to these rate constants gives apparent self-exchange rate constants that are reasonably consistent yet unusually low, with an average value of 1.0 x 10(-2) M(-1) s(-1). The self-consistence of the apparent self-exchange rate constants implies that all of the cross reactions proceed through the same intermediate, and hence, the outer-sphere self-exchange reaction should have a second-order rate law with k = 1.0 x 10(-2) M(-1) s(-1). The much faster first-order self-exchange process reported previously for the [Cu(bite)](2+/+) couple in acetone implies a more efficient mechanism for the self-exchange reaction than for the cross reactions, such as an inner-sphere mechanism. Cyclic voltammograms of [Cu(bite)](n+) are strongly sensitive to the nature of the working electrode, thus precluding the use of these data in interpreting the homogeneous redox kinetics.

The identification and characterization of hydrazinyl urea-based antibacterial agents through combinatorial chemistry.

An effort to identify novel inhibitors of peptidoglycan synthesis with antibacterial activity resulted in the discovery of a series of biaryl urea-based antibacterial agents through isolation of a by-product from a mixture-based combinatorial library of semi-carbazones and subsequent parallel synthesis efforts. The compounds were shown to possess broad spectrum antibacterial activity against gram-positive drug resistant pathogens, and showed apparent specificity for disruption of the bacterial cell wall biosynthesis pathway.

Traceless solid-phase synthesis of 2,4-diaminoquinazolines.

[reaction: see text] The solid-phase synthesis of 2,4-diaminoquinazolines is presented. The chemistry involves the sequential condensation of 2-aminobenzonitriles and amines starting from an acyl isothiocyanate resin via a traceless cleavage and cyclization. The alpha-1 antagonist prazosin was synthesized, as well as several other examples, in good yields and purity.

Association of obesity with hiatal hernia and esophagitis.

OBJECTIVE: Although weight loss is commonly recommended for symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, a relationship between excessive body weight and esophageal reflux has not been established. The aim of this study was to determine whether obesity is associated with the presence of a hiatal hernia (HH) and/or an endoscopic diagnosis of esophagitis. METHODS: Retrospective case control studies were done using 1389 patients who underwent gastric analysis and upper GI endoscopy between 1974 and 1995. After excluding patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, 189 cases of esophagitis with 1024 controls were identified. In a separate analysis of the database, 151 cases of HH with 1053 controls were also identified. Patients were classified by body mass index (BMI) as: thin (BMI <20 kg/m2), normal (BMI 20-25), mildly obese (BMI 25-30), and obese (BMI >30). RESULTS: Excessive body weight was significantly associated with the presence of HH, the probability of HH increasing with each level of BMI (p < 0.01), as well as with esophagitis (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.4-2.1). HH was independently associated with esophagitis (OR 4.2 95% CI 2.9-6.1); when controlled for the effect of HH, the association between BMI and esophagitis diminished but remained significant. In the population as a whole, for the presence of esophagitis multiple logistic regression indicates BMI and hiatal hernia were significant factors but gender and race did not appear to be. CONCLUSIONS: Excessive body weight is a significant independent risk factor for hiatal hernia and is significantly associated with esophagitis, largely through an increased incidence of hiatal hernia. Whites are more likely to have the combination of esophagitis and hiatal hernia than are blacks.

Simultaneous determination of enantioselective plasma protein binding of aminohydantoins by ultrafiltration and chiral high-performance liquid chromatography.

Chiral HPLC methods were developed and utilized for the simultaneous determination of plasma protein binding of enantiomers of two racemic aminohydantoin compounds. Reversed-phase HPLC with the use of a polysaccharide-type chiral stationary phase column was employed for the separation and quantitation of the enantiomers of the two compounds with detection limits in the range 5-10 ng/ml in the plasma matrix. The chiral HPLC methods were selective, sensitive and reproducible. The R and S enantiomers of both compounds were baseline-resolved under the chromatographic conditions employed. Ultrafiltration techniques were applied to determining the plasma protein binding for each enantiomer in rat, dog and human plasma. The results clearly show stereoselective binding of the two enantiomers of each compound with higher protein binding of the R enantiomer than the S enantiomer in rat, dog and human plasma. Binding association constants were also determined to be in the range 1.01-14.0 x 10(4) M(-1) at 37 degrees C. Both the protein binding percentage and binding association constant were enantioselective and species-dependent. Such information is important for a clear understanding of the differences in biological activity as well as in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties between the two enantiomers of each compound in the drug discovery and development process.

In vivo studies of fullerene-based materials using endohedral metallofullerene radiotracers.

Biodistribution studies of a water-soluble radioactive metallofullerene compound have been conducted using BALB/c mice. To this end, a sample containing Hox@C82 (x = 1, 2) was purified and derivatized to prepare the water-soluble metallofullerol, Hox@C82(OH)y. This metallofullerol was then neutron-activated (165Ho[n,gamma]166Ho) to prepare the 166Hox@C82(OH)y analog as a radiotracer, which was monitored, after intravenous administration, for up to 48 hours by using dissection radioanalysis, and its biodistribution was compared with a control compound, Na2[166Ho(DTPA)(H2O)]. Results showed selective localization of the 166Hox@C82(OH)y tracer in the liver but with slow clearance, as well as uptake by bone without clearance. In contrast, excretion of the control compound was nearly quantitative after 1 hour. The fate of 166Ho was also explored by a metabolism study of 166Hox@C82(OH)y in Fischer rats. Results indicated 20% excretion of intact 166Hox@C82(OH)y within 5 days. The present findings demonstrate the feasibility of using water-solubilized metallofullerene radiotracers to monitor the fate of fullerene-based materials in animals, and suggest that water-solubilized fullerene materials, in general, may be useful components in drug design.

An epidemiologic study of fatigue with relevance for the chronic fatigue syndrome.

We surveyed households in four rural Michigan communities to confirm a reported cluster of cases resembling chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and to study the epidemiology of fatigue in a rural area. Data were collected from 1698 households. We did not confirm the reported cluster. The prevalence of households containing at least one fatigued person was similar between communities thought to harbor the cluster and communities selected for comparison. Symptoms and features of generic forms of fatigue were very similar to those often attributed to CFS.

Monomer concentrations and dimerization constants in crystallizing lysozyme solutions by dialysis kinetics.

Dialysis kinetics measurements have been made to study the effect of ionic strength on the dimerization of lysozyme in acidic solutions that lead to the growth of tetragonal lysozyme crystals. Using glutaraldehyde cross-linked dimers of lysozyme, we have determined that both monomers and dimers can escape from 25,000 molecular weight cutoff dialysis membranes with velocity constants of 5.1 x 10(-7) and 1.0 x 10(-7) s(-1) for the monomer and dimer species, respectively. The flux from 25K MWCO membranes has been measured for lysozyme in pH 4.0 buffered solutions of 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7% NaCl over a wide range of protein concentrations. Assuming that dimerization is the first step in crystallization, a simple monomer to dimer equilibrium was used to model the flux rates. Dimerization constants calculated at low protein concentrations were 265, 750, 1212, and 7879 M(-1) for 3, 4, 5, and 7% NaCl, respectively. These values indicate that dimerization increases with the ionic strength of the solution suggesting that aggregation is moderated by electrostatic interactions. At high protein concentrations and high supersaturation, the dimerization model does not describe the data well. However, the Li model that uses a pathway of monomer <-> dimer <-> tetramer <-> octamer <-> 16-mer fits the measured flux data remarkably well suggesting the presence of higher order aggregates in crystallizing solutions.

Salt-induced aggregation of lysozyme studied by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde: implications for crystal growth.

Glutaraldehyde cross-linking followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been used to detect aggregates of isozyme in solutions which lead to crystals. In solutions of varying NaCl content, the number of aggregates was found to be related to the ionic strength of the solution. Solutions of 1% NaCl, pH 4.0 were monomeric while those containing 7-15% NaCl, pH 4.0 were shown to be as much as 36% aggregated and 64% monomeric. The aggregates detected at the highest salt and protein concentration studied were composed of dimers, trimers and tetramers. The aggregates increased by addition of single units suggesting the aggregation pathway to be that of monomer addition. The kinetics of the cross-linking reaction were slow preventing a study of either the time dependence of aggregation or the effect of temperature on aggregate distributions. Comparison of the total aggregate concentrations for NaCl and Na(2)SO(4) showed that the concentration of aggregates was related to the ionic strength of the solution suggesting that in both crystallization and precipitation, electrostatic shielding of like-charged protein molecules is necessary in order for aggregation to occur.

Molecular stereochemistry of [FeIII(TPP)(OCOCF3)].

(meso-Tetraphenylporphinato)(trifluoroacetato)iron(III), [Fe(C2F3O2)(C44H28N4)], consists of a central Fe atom equatorially coordinated to four pyrrole N atoms and axially coordinated th an O atom of the trifluoroacetate group. The average Fe--N bond distance is 2.054(5)A and the Fe atom is displaced 0.483 (1) A from the porphinato plane. The Fe--O distance is 1.921 (4) A. The out-of-plane displacement and the Fe--N bond lengths indicate that the Fe atom is in a high-spin state.