We highlight some results from our detailed abundance analysis study of 703 kinematically selected F and G dwarf stars in the solar neighbourhood. The analysis is based on spectra of high-resolution (R = 45 000 to 110 000) and high signal-to-noise (S/N approximate to 150 to 300). The main findings include: (1) at a given metallicity, the thick disk abundance trends are more alpha-enhanced than tho

The Lifestyle Interventions for Expectant Moms (LIFE-Moms) Consortium is designed to determine, in pregnant women with overweight or obesity, whether various behavioral and lifestyle interventions reduce excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and subsequent adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes and obesity in offspring. The design and planning process of the LIFE-Moms Consortium is described.

Lifestyle interventions (i.e., diet and/or physical activity) are effective in delaying or preventing the onset of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, policymakers must know the cost-effectiveness of such interventions before implementing them at the large-scale population level. This review discusses various issues (e.g., characteristics, modeling, and long-term effectiveness) in the ec

The increasing concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO(2)) is expected to lead to enhanced competition between plants and microorganisms for the available nitrogen (N) in soil. Here, we present novel results from a 15N tracing study conducted with a sheep-grazed pasture soil that had been under 10 years of CO(2) enrichment. Our study aimed to investigate changes in process-specific gross N

The surface properties of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are important because different enzymes bind and carry out their functions at the surface of HDL particles during metabolic processes. However, the surface properties of HDL and other lipoproteins are poorly known because they cannot be directly measured for nanoscale particles with contemporary experimental methods. In this work, we carri

Bromate, which is a potential carcinogen, should be removed from drinking water to levels of less than 10 mug/L. A chitosan-based molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and a sol-gel ion-exchange double hydrous oxide (Fe(2)O(3).Al(2)O(3).xH(2)O) adsorbent (inorganic adsorbent) were prepared for this purpose. The sorption behavior of each adsorbent including sorption kinetics, isotherms, effect of pH

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of separate and simultaneous dietary intake of atorvastatin (ATO) and the soluble fiber oat bran on serum and hepatic lipid levels and the degree of atherosclerosis. Ninety female LDL-receptor-deficient (LDLr-/-) mice were fed a Western-type diet containing either low dose (0.0025%), high dose (0.01%) or no ATO, with or without oat bran (27%) (n =

Knowledge about the existing safety culture in a maritime organization such as in shipping companies or on board ships can enable the formulation of effective interventions to maintain and improve safety culture and safety in the organization. When assessing the safety culture, questionnaires developed for this purpose are often used. This paper proposes a work process that facilitates the analysi

Abstract: We report on a 1000 year long oxygen isotope record in sediments of the eastern Norwegian Sea which, we argue, represents the temperature and transport of warm Atlantic waters entering the Nordic Sea basin via the North Atlantic Drift and the large-scale Meridional Overturning Circulation. The single-sample resolution of the record is 2.5-10 years and age control is provided by Pb-210 an

Scabies is an infectious skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei and has been classified as one of the six most prevalent epidermal parasitic skin diseases infecting populations living in poverty by the World Health Organisation. The role of the complement system, a pivotal component of human innate immunity, as an important defence against invading pathogens has been well documented and

Survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) may experience psychological distress but the actual prevalence is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate anxiety and depression within a large cohort of OHCA-survivors.

In a recent article Bai (2013a) proposes a new factor analytical method (FAM) for the estimation of fixed-effects dynamic panel data models, which has the unique and very useful property that it is asymptotically bias free. In this paper we provide Monte Carlo evidence of the good small-sample performance of FAM, that complement Bai's theoretical study.

Disordered eating and its associations with psychological difficulties and body satisfaction were prospectively studied in a community sample of 13-15 year old adolescent girls (N = 428). General psychological difficulties (including hyperactivity-inattention) and lower levels of body satisfaction at T1 were found to predict disordered eating at follow-up one year later (T2). Furthermore, reciproc

Although carbonate-carbon (C), an integral part of biochar-C, contributes to the liming properties of that material, it also interferes with the estimation of the stable organic C fraction in biochars. In this study, four methods were compared in order to quantify the carbonate-C in biochars: two direct (a titrimetric procedure and thermogravimetric analysis, TGA), and two indirect (acid treatment

The Qaidam Basin is one of the most sensitive areas to climate change in China, owing to its unique geographical position and ecological condition. In this study, 32 surface-soil pollen samples were collected to reveal the relationship between modern pollen assemblages, vegetation and precipitation in the eastern region of the Qaidam Basin. The results show that Chenopodiaceae (3.887%, average 48%

An incorrect, superficial suckling technique in breastfeeding frequently leads to milk congestion and sometimes mastitis. In the present study we have examined whether milk congestion may affect levels of the atypical opioid beta-casomorphin-8 in milk and in plasma. We also investigated whether the rate of acute psychosis during the first half year after parturition has declined in Sweden over the

Research has shown that people often exert control over their emotions. By modulating expressions, reappraising feelings, and redirecting attention, they can regulate their emotional experience. These findings have contributed to a blurring of the traditional boundaries between cognitive and emotional processes, and it has been suggested that emotional signals are produced in a goal-directed way a