Juniper fields in Sogn, Western Norway, a man-made vegetation type

Juniperus communis has been used e.g. as poles (posts), haysticks and wall-coating. In some districts it has even been an important export article. The fields of columnar juniper are the result of a long history of cultivation and grazing. In this article the main types of juniper fields in Sogn, Western Norway are presented, and their relationships to soil conditions and traditional use are discussed. According to structure, utilization and development four main types of juniper fields are recognized: I. Traditional juniper fields, II. Semi-cultural juniper fields, III. Secondary juniper fields and IV. Semi-natural juniper fields. Due to changes in agricultural methods, juniper fields are becoming rare.     

A full body musculoskeletal model based on flexible multibody simulation approach utilised in bone strain analysis during human locomotion

Load-induced strains applied to bone can stimulate its development and adaptation. In order to quantify the incident strains within the skeleton, in vivo implementation of strain gauges on the surfaces of bone is typically used. However, in vivo strain measurements require invasive methodology that is challenging and limited to certain regions of superficial bones only such as the anterior surface of the tibia. Based on our previous study [Al Nazer et al. (2008) J Biomech. 41:1036–1043], an alternative numerical approach to analyse in vivo strains based on the flexible multibody simulation approach was proposed. The purpose of this study was to extend the idea of using the flexible multibody approach in the analysis of bone strains during physical activity through integrating the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique within the framework. In order to investigate the reliability and validity of the proposed approach, a three-dimensional full body musculoskeletal model with a flexible tibia was used as a demonstration example. The model was used in a forward dynamics simulation in order to predict the tibial strains during walking on a level exercise. The flexible tibial model was developed using the actual geometry of human tibia, which was obtained from three-dimensional reconstruction of MRI. Motion capture data obtained from walking at constant velocity were used to drive the model during the inverse dynamics simulation in order to teach the muscles to reproduce the motion in the forward dynamics simulation. Based on the agreement between the literature-based in vivo strain measurements and the simulated strain results, it can be concluded that the flexible multibody approach enables reasonable predictions of bone strain in response to dynamic loading. The information obtained from the present approach can be useful in clinical applications including devising exercises to prevent bone fragility or to accelerate fracture healing.     

Cleavage of the Phosphodiester Bond of Uridylyl-(3′,5′)-8-Carboxymethylaminoadenosine by Hydronium,Hydroxide and Zinc(Ii) Ions: A Model Study Aimed at Elucidating the Potential of a Carboxylate Function as an Intramolecular Catalyst

Abstract

Uridylyl-(3′,5′)-8-carboxymethylaminoadenosine has been synthesised, and its transesterification to uridine 2′,3′-cyclic phosphate in the presence and absence of Zn²⁺ ion has been studied. The results show that a carboxylate function in the vicinity of the phosphodiester bond accelerates the metal ion promoted cleavage but not the metal ion independent reaction. Under acidic conditions, the predominant reaction is the cleavage of the side chain, giving the 8-amino derivative.     

Changes in the Secretory Profile of NSCLC-Associated Fibroblasts after Ablative Radiotherapy: Potential Impact on Angiogenesis and Tumor Growth

In the context of radiotherapy, collateral effects of ablative doses of ionizing radiation (AIR) on stromal components of tumors remains understudied. In this work, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) isolated from freshly resected human lung tumors were exposed to AIR (1x 18 Gy) and analyzed for their release of paracrine factors. Inflammatory mediators and regulators of angiogenesis and tumor growth were analyzed by multiplex protein assays in conditioned medium (CM) from irradiated and non-irradiated CAFs. Additionally, the profile of secreted proteins was examined by proteomics. In functional assays, effects of CAF-CM on proliferative and migratory capacity of lung tumor cells (H-520/H-522) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and their tube-forming capacity were assessed. Our data show that exposure of CAFs to AIR results in 1) downregulated release of angiogenic molecules such as stromal cell-derived factor-1, angiopoietin, and thrombospondin-2 (TSP-2); 2) upregulated release of basic fibroblast growth factor from most donors; and 3) unaffected expression levels of hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α. CM from irradiated and control CAFs did not affect differently the proliferative or migratory capacity of tumor cells (H-520/H-522), whereas migratory capacity of HUVECs was partially reduced in the presence of irradiated CAF-CM. Overall, we conclude that AIR mediates a transformation on the secretory profile of CAFs that could influence the behavior of other cells in the tumor tissue and hence guide therapeutic outcomes. Downstream consequences of the changes observed in this study merits further investigations.     

Low Omega-3 Index in Pregnancy Is a Possible Biological Risk Factor for Postpartum Depression

Background

Depression is a common disorder affecting 10–15% women in the postpartum period. Postpartum depression can disrupt early mother-infant interaction, and constitutes a risk factor for early child development. Recently, attention has been drawn to the hypothesis that a low intake of seafood in pregnancy can be a risk factor for postpartum depression. Seafood is a unique dietary source of the marine omega-3 fatty acids and is a natural part of a healthy balanced diet that is especially important during pregnancy.

Methods

In a community based prospective cohort in a municipality in Western Norway, we investigated both nutritional and psychological risk factors for postpartum depression. The source population was all women who were pregnant within the period November 2009 - June 2011. The fatty acid status in red blood cells was assessed in the 28^th gestation week and participants were screened for postpartum depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) three months after delivery. The aim of the present study was to investigate if a low omega-3 index in pregnancy is a possible risk factor for postpartum depression.

Results

In a simple regression model, the omega-3 index was associated with the EPDS score in a nonlinear inverse manner with an R square of 19. Thus, the low omega-3 index explained 19% of the variance in the EPDS score. The DPA content, DHA content, omega-3 index, omega-3/omega-6 ratio, total HUFA score, and the omega-3 HUFA score were all inversely correlated with the EPDS score. The EPDS scores of participants in the lowest omega-3 index quartile were significantly different to the three other omega-3 index quartiles.

Conclusion

In this study population, a low omega-3 index in late pregnancy was associated with higher depression score three months postpartum.     

Sex Differences in HIV Prevalence Persist over Time: Evidence from 18 Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine changes over time in the female: male HIV prevalence ratio in 18 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, overall and when stratified by area of residence, educational attainment and marital status.

Methodology

We used data from the Demographic and Health Surveys, which are nationally representative household surveys. By using data from 18 countries with at least two survey rounds with HIV testing, and dividing the countries into three regions (Western/Central, Eastern and Southern) we were able to examine cross-country and regional changes in the female: male HIV prevalence ratio over time. Logistic regression was used to estimate female: male HIV prevalence ratios in urban versus rural areas and for different categories of education and marital status. To assess changes over time, we compared the confidence intervals of the prevalence ratios.

Results

The female: male HIV prevalence ratio was above one in all countries in at least one survey round for both ages 15–24 years and 25–49 years. In 13 out of 18 countries the prevalence ratio was higher for the younger age group compared to the age group 25–49 years (3 significant) and this difference in prevalence ratios between the age groups did not change over time. Overall, there was a higher frequency of increasing than decreasing prevalence ratios. The gender disparity was greater among those who were married/living together than among the never-married, and over time, the ratio was more stable among the married/living together. The study found no clear differential changes by education.

Conclusion

Women continue to carry the greater burden of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa and there is no clear pattern of change in the gap between men and women as the direction and magnitude of change in the prevalence ratios varied greatly.