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Standardized tests have been used to forecast scholastic success of school-age children, and have been related to intelligence, working memory, and inhibition using neuropsychological tests. However, ERP correlates of standardized achievement have not been reported. Thus, the relationship between academic achievement and the P3 component was assessed in a sample of 105 children during performance on a Go/NoGo task. The Wide Range Achievement Test – 3rd edition was administered to assess aptitude in reading, spelling, and arithmetic. Regression analyses indicated an independent contribution of P3 amplitude to reading and arithmetic achievement beyond the variance accounted for by IQ and school grade. No such relationship was observed for spelling. These data suggest that the P3, which reflects attentional processes involved in stimulus evaluation and inhibitory control may be a biomarker for academic achievement during childhood.

Using data drawn from the Labour Force Survey between 1997 and 2006, we find that the premium enjoyed by the stock of university graduates has remained largely stable over this period. This is true for both men and women, across all subject areas and across the ability distribution. However, there is evidence that wage returns for the most recent cohort, that is those graduating after much of the recent expansion of higher education had been completed, have moderated.

The present study examined the effects of a 9-month randomized control physical activity intervention aimed at improving cardiorespiratory fitness on changes in working memory performance in preadolescent children relative to a waitlist control group. Participants performed a modified Sternberg task, which manipulated working memory demands based on encoding set sizes, while task performance and the contingent negative variation (CNV) event-related brain potential were measured. Analyses revealed that the physical activity intervention led to increases in cardiorespiratory fitness and improved Sternberg task performance. Further, the beneficial effects of the physical activity intervention were greater for a task condition requiring greater working memory demands. In addition, the intervention group exhibited larger initial CNV at the frontal electrode site, relative to the waitlist group at post-test; an effect not observed during the pre-test. These results indicate that increases in cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with improvements in the cognitive control of working memory in preadolescent children.

Background: We conducted a baseline prevalence survey of unvaccinated 11- to 18-year olds to inform effectiveness studies for the new human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme in Scotland. Methods: Participants were recruited from schools and colleges and invited to provide demographic data and an anonymous urine sample for type-specific HPV testing. Results: Among females aged 11–14 years, the weighted prevalence was 1.1% overall; 0.9% for high-risk types and no infections were associated with types 16 and 18. Among 15- to 18-year old females, the weighted prevalence was 15.2% overall; 12.6% for high-risk types and 6.5% for types 16 and 18. Among females aged 16–18 years, infection was more frequently associated with attending college and rural schools, and showed a trend towards increasing prevalence with increasing social deprivation (P=0.045). Among males aged 11–14 years, the weighted prevalence was 1.4% overall; 1.0% for high-risk types and 0.7% for types 16 and 18. Among 15- to 18-year old males, the weighted prevalence was 3.9% overall; 2.4% for high-risk types and 0.7% for types 16 and 18. Conclusions: Human Papillomavirus prevalence is low among 11- to 14-year olds, which includes the age group targeted for routine vaccination. The prevalence in males and correlation with deprivation require further investigation.

Background Established treatments for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) include cognitive behavioural psychotherapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication. Combining CBT with SSRI may be superior to either monotherapy, but few studies have addressed this question in adults with OCD. Aim Optimal Treatment for OCD (OTO) is a feasibility study aimed to inform the design of a definitive trial of sufficient size to provide accurate information about the cost-effectiveness of each treatment approach. Design The study took place at three centres. Participants were community-based service-users aged 18-65y with OCD of at least moderate severity and a duration of symptoms >1 year. Out of 258 potential participants, 66 were screened and 49 entered the study and were randomly assigned to CBT (n=16), SSRI (n=18) or SSRI+ CBT (combination; n=15). Sertraline (50-200mg/d) was given as the SSRI for 52 weeks. Sixteen hours’ manualised individual CBT was delivered over 8 weeks with 4 additional hour-long follow-up sessions. Regular assessments were made by researchers ‘blinded’ to the treatment allocation for 52 weeks. A preliminary health economic evaluation was made using standardised measures of resource use and the EQ-5D-3L. Results At baseline the mean total Y-BOCS across all groups was 26.7 (SD =5.9). 29 patients completed 16 weeks of treatment, with adequate adherence to allocated treatments. At week 16, for participants remaining in the study, there was evidence of improvement (all patients’ mean total YBOCS =18.4 (8.9)). Combination treatment (n=13) was associated with the largest improvement, sertraline (n=7) the next largest and CBT (n=9) the smallest. Symptomatic improvement continued to 52 weeks, but participant discontinuation made it not possible to perform further reliable between-treatment comparisons. Compared to sertraline monotherapy, the mean costs were higher for the CBT monotherapy, and the combined group. The mean QALY score was greater for sertraline monotherapy when compared with CBT monotherapy and when compared with the combined group. Eleven of a total of 288 adverse events were considered to be severe. Three serious adverse events were reported. One was a suicide attempt, which was considered to be possibly related to treatment, and 2 were hospital admissions for termination of pregnancy which were not related. Conclusions SSRI with CBT may offer the most clinically effective treatment (especially over CBT), and SSRI monotherapy the most cost-effective treatment. Implications If the superiority of SSRI in OCD were to be replicated in a future study, there would be potential for large cost savings to health services. However the small size of the current study means that the conclusions drawn have to be treated with caution, and further research would thereby be of value. Our study confirms that a definitive study can be conducted.

We tested the hypothesis that concussed college athletes (CA) have attenuated parasympathetic and sympathetic responses to face cooling (FC). Eleven symptomatic CA (age: 20 ± 2 years, 5 women) who were within 10 days of concussion diagnosis and 10 healthy controls (HC; age: 24 ± 4 years, 5 women) participated. During FC, a plastic bag filled with ice water (~0°C) was placed on the forehead, eyes, and cheeks for 3 min. Heart rate (ECG) and blood pressure (photoplethysmography) were averaged at baseline and every 60 sec during FC. High‐frequency (HF) power was obtained from spectral analysis of the R‐R interval. Data are presented as a change from baseline. Baseline heart rate (HC: 61 ± 12, CA: 57 ± 12 bpm; P = 0.69), mean arterial pressure (MAP) (HC: 94 ± 10, CA: 96 ± 13 mmHg; P = 0.74), and HF (HC: 2294 ± 2314, CA: 2459 ± 2058 msec2; P = 0.86) were not different between groups. Heart rate in HC decreased at 2 min (−7 ± 11 bpm; P = 0.02) but did not change in CA (P > 0.43). MAP increased at 1 min (HC: 12 ± 6, CA: 6 ± 6 mmHg), 2 min (HC: 21 ± 7, CA: 11 ± 7 mmHg), and 3 min (HC: 20 ± 6, CA: 13 ± 7 mmHg) in both groups (P 0.58). The increase in HF at 1 min was greater in HC versus CA (P

The microtubule-associated protein Tau plays a crucial role in regulating the dynamic stability of microtubules during neuronal development and synaptic transmission. In a group of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer disease and other tauopathies, conformational changes in Tau are associated with the initial stages of disease pathology. Folding of Tau into the MC1 conformation, where the amino acids at residues 7–9 interact with residues 312–342, is one of the earliest pathological alterations of Tau in Alzheimer disease. The mechanism of this conformational change in Tau and the subsequent effect on function and association to microtubules is largely unknown. Recent work by our group and others suggests that members of the Hsp70 family play a significant role in Tau regulation. Our new findings suggest that heat shock cognate (Hsc) 70 facilitates Tau-mediated microtubule polymerization. The association of Hsc70 with Tau was rapidly enhanced following treatment with microtubule-destabilizing agents. The fate of Tau released from the microtubule was found to be dependent on ATPase activity of Hsc70. Microtubule destabilization also rapidly increased the MC1 folded conformation of Tau. An in vitro assay suggests that Hsc70 facilitates formation of MC1 Tau. However, in a hyperphosphorylating environment, the formation of MC1 was abrogated, but Hsc70 binding to Tau was enhanced. Thus, under normal circumstances, MC1 formation may be a protective conformation facilitated by Hsc70. However, in a diseased environment, Hsc70 may preserve Tau in a more unstructured state, perhaps facilitating its pathogenicity.

Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) has been shown to play a role in glutamatergic neurotransmission and is a risk gene for schizophrenia, in which there is evidence for hypoglutamatergic function. Sensitivity to the behavioural effects of the psychotomimetic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists MK-801 and phencyclidine (PCP) was examined in mutant mice with heterozygous deletion of NRG1. Social behaviour (sociability, social novelty preference and dyadic interaction), together with exploratory activity, was assessed following acute or subchronic administration of MK-801 (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg) or PCP (5 mg/kg). In untreated NRG1 mutants, levels of glutamate, N-acetylaspartate and GABA were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography and regional brain volumes were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging at 7T. NRG1 mutants, particularly males, displayed decreased responsivity to the locomotor-activating effects of acute PCP. Subchronic MK-801 and PCP disrupted sociability and social novelty preference in mutants and wildtypes and reversed the increase in both exploratory activity and social dominance-related behaviours observed in vehicle-treated mutants. No phenotypic differences were demonstrated in N-acetylaspartate, glutamate or GABA levels. The total ventricular and olfactory bulb volume was decreased in mutants. These data indicate a subtle role for NRG1 in modulating several schizophrenia-relevant processes including the effects of psychotomimetic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists.

Background: Deficits in motor functioning, including walking, and in cognitive functions, including attention, are known to be prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS), though little attention has been paid to how impairments in these areas of functioning interact. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of performing a concurrent cognitive task when walking in people with MS. Level of task demand was manipulated to investigate whether this affected level of dual-task decrement. Method: Eighteen participants with MS and 18 healthy controls took part. Participants completed walking and cognitive tasks under single- and dual-task conditions. Results: Compared to healthy controls, MS participants showed greater decrements in performance under dual-task conditions in cognitive task performance, walking speed and swing time variability. In the MS group, the degree of decrement under dual-task conditions was related to levels of fatigue, a measure of general cognitive functioning and self-reported everyday cognitive errors, but not to measures of disease severity or duration. Conclusions: Difficulty with walking and talking in MS may be a result of a divided attention deficit or of overloading of the working memory system, and further investigation is needed. We suggest that difficulty with walking and talking in MS may lead to practical problems in everyday life, including potentially increasing the risk of falls. Clinical tools to assess cognitive—motor dual-tasking ability are needed.

The paper analyses employment differences between Northern Ireland's Catholics and Protestants and examines whether the Good Friday Agreement signed in 1998 was followed by an improvement in the relative position of Catholics.

Background While pain intensity during migraine headache attacks is known to be a determinant of interference with daily activities, no study has evaluated: (a) the pain intensity-interference association in real-time on a per-headache basis, (b) multiple interference domains, and (c) factors that modify the association. Methods Participants were 116 women with overweight/obesity and migraine seeking behavioral treatment to lose weight and decrease headaches in the Women’s Health and Migraine trial. Ecological momentary assessment, via smartphone-based 28-day headache diary, and linear mixed-effects models were used to study associations between pain intensity and total- and domain-specific interference scores using the Brief Pain Inventory. Multiple factors (e.g. pain catastrophizing (PC) and headache management self-efficacy (HMSE)) were evaluated either as independent predictors or moderators of the pain intensity-interference relationship. Results Pain intensity predicted degree of pain interference across all domains either as a main effect (coeff = 0.61–0.78, p Conclusions Pain intensity is a consistent predictor of pain interference on migraine headache days. Allodynia, PC, and HMSE moderated the pain intensity-interference relationship, and may be promising targets for interventions to reduce pain interference.

This prospective, multicentre, international, observational, cohort study compared injection site pain (ISP) and injection site reactions (ISRS) between interferon beta-1b (IFNB-1b; Betaferon ®) 250 μg subcutaneously every other day and interferon beta-1a (IFNB-1a; Rebif®) 44 μg subcutaneously three times weekly in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Patients started treatment within 3 months before recruitment and were on full dose of therapy at inclusion. Patients self-injected IFNB and self-assessed ISP for 15 consecutive injections immediately, 30 and 60 min after injection, using a visual analogue scale diary. Study staff assessed ISRS. Of 445 patients (valid cases), ~90% used autoinjectors. More patients were pain-free at all timepoints with IFNB-1b than with IFNB-1a (eg, 30 min: 42.6% versus 19.7%; P< 0.0001). The mean proportion of pain-free injections was greater for IFNB-1b (eg, 30 min: 79.0%) than for IFNB-1a (53.3%; P < 0.0001). The proportion of patients without ISRS was greater for IFNB-1b (second visit 51.8% versus 33.8%; P < 0.0001). Compared with IFNB-1a, more IFNB-1b patients either had no pain or their ISP had no influence on treatment satisfaction (76.9% versus 64.1%; P = 0.006). The impact on tolerability and patient acceptability of any new IFNB product formulations would, however, have to be evaluated in comparative studies. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13 : 1153—1160. http://msj.sagepub.com

This study evaluates the synergistic effects of ultraviolet (UV) and secondary disinfectants on water quality in a model distribution system. Chemical disinfectants evaluated for residual disinfection include chlorine dioxide, monochloramine, and free chlorine. Results suggest that there may be synergistic effects between UV and the chemical disinfectants for controlling microbiological re-growth in drinking water distribution systems. UV disinfection appeared to increase the vulnerability of bacteria located in suspension or within biofilms to chemical disinfection, although only at low disinfectant residual concentrations of 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 mg/L for chlorine dioxide, free chlorine, and monochloramines, respectively. At high disinfectant residual concentrations of 0.50, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/L for chlorine dioxide, free chlorine, and monochloramines, respectively, results indicated that chemical disinfection alone would be adequate for microbial control. In the reactors receiving UV pre-treatment, both chlorine dioxide and free chlorine disinfection were far more effective in reducing the growth of suspended heterotrophic bacteria than without UV pre-treatment. Similar biofilm and suspended bacterial levels were observed without subsequent chemical disinfection regardless of the presence or absence of UV treatment. Overall, these findings imply that UV treatment prior to chemical disinfection enhances microbial control in distribution systems. These results indicate the use of UV pre-treatment can be effective at reducing the disinfectant concentration necessary for microbial control, therefore reducing the potential for the formation of disinfectant by-product in the system.Key words: drinking water, UV pre-treatment, chlorine dioxide, chlorine, monochloramines, disinfection.

Adaption and anticipation to reported illness upon subjective wellbeing is analysed across the wellbeing distribution. Anticipation effects are muted, but substantial adaption effects are apparent that differ markedly over the range of wellbeing, being most evident at the upper quartile.

This study examined whether inactive, overweight/obese women experience consistent affective responses to moderate-intensity exercise. Twenty-eight women participated in 3 identical (same treadmill grade and speed within a subject) 30-min exercise sessions. The Feeling Scale (FS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and Subjective Exercise Experience Scale were administered pre- and postexercise and FS was also administered every 5 min during exercise. All measures exhibited less than optimal agreement in pre-to-postexercise change within an individual across the 3 sessions (ICCs = 0.02–0.60), even after controlling for within-subject variations in heart rate. Only FS exhibited “good” consistency when controlling for preexercise values (ICC = 0.72). However, the mean FS score during exercise was highly consistent within an individual (ICC = 0.83). Thus, an individual’s affective response to an exercise session does not provide reliable information about how they will respond to subsequent exercise sessions. Taking the average of FS measurements during exercise may yield more consistent findings.

North American drinking water utilities are currently re-evaluating their disinfection strategies for controlling microbiological growth in distribution systems. Most water systems in North America use free chlorine as a secondary disinfectant. Since chlorine is known to form potentially carcinogenic byproducts in drinking water, utilities are looking for an alternative to maintain a disinfectant residual in the distribution system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of model drinking water distribution systems to a change in disinfectant from either free chlorine or chloramines to chlorine dioxide, in terms of its impact on microbiological water quality (bulk water and biofilm). Switching from a chlorine residual of 0.5 mg/L to a chlorine dioxide residual of 0.25 mg/L did not impact (negatively or positively) microbial water quality as quantified by heterotrophic and total cell counts (sample size = 8 data points). Thus, on the basis of the mass of disinfectant applied, chlorine dioxide was more efficient than free chlorine at controlling microbiological growth in the model distribution system. Similarly, chlorine dioxide was more efficient than chloramines, as a chlorine dioxide residual of 0.25 mg/L inactivated 0.75–1 log more suspended organisms than 1.0 mg/L residual of chloramines. Therefore, under the tested conditions, chlorine showed similar or better disinfection efficiency than free chlorine and chloramines, respectively.

Little is known about rates and correlates of suicidal ideation among nonclinical samples of preadolescents from low-income urban backgrounds. Using the Children's Depression Inventory, we measured suicidal ideation in 131 preadolescent urban children (49% female, 90% African American/Caribbean) participating in an ongoing prospective longitudinal study of prenatal cocaine exposure and children's outcome. Suicidal ideation was reported by 14.5% of the children in this sample at 9 to 10 years of age. Children's reports of depressive symptoms, exposure to violence, and distress symptoms in response to witnessing violence were associated with suicidal ideation, but prenatal cocaine exposure, parent-rated child behavior, and caregivers' psychological distress symptoms were not. Suicidal ideation may be more prevalent among preadolescents from urban, low-income backgrounds than clinicians suspect, particularly among children exposed to violence.

The first historical eruption of Anatahan volcano began on May 10, 2003. Samples of tephra from early in the eruption were analyzed for major and trace elements, and Sr, Nd, Pb, Hf, and O isotopic compositions. The compositions of these tephras are compared with those of prehistoric samples of basalt and andesite, also newly reported here. The May 2003 eruptives are medium-K andesites with 59–63 wt.% SiO_2, and are otherwise homogeneous (varying less than 3% 2σ about the mean for 45 elements). Small, but systematic, chemical differences exist between dark (scoria) and light (pumice) fragments, which indicate fewer mafic and oxide phenocrysts in, and less degassing for, the pumice than scoria. The May 2003 magmas are nearly identical to other prehistoric eruptives from Anatahan. Nonetheless, Anatahan has erupted a wide range of compositions in the past, from basalt to dacite (49–66 wt.% SiO_2). The large proportion of lavas with silicic compositions at Anatahan (> 59 wt.% SiO_2) is unique within the active Mariana Islands, which otherwise erupt a narrow range of basalts and basaltic andesites. The silicic compositions raise the question of whether they formed via crystal fractionation or crustal assimilation. The lack of ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr variation with silica content, the MORB-like δ^(18)O, and the incompatible behavior of Zr rule out assimilation of old crust, altered crust, or zircon-saturated crustal melts, respectively. Instead, the constancy of isotopic and trace element ratios, and the systematic variations in REE patterns are consistent with evolution by crystal fractionation of similar parental magmas. Thus, Anatahan is a type example of an island-arc volcano that erupts comagmatic basalts to dacites, with no evidence for crustal assimilation. The parental magmas to Anatahan lie at the low ^(143)Nd/^(144)Nd, Ba/La, and Sm/La end of the spectrum of magmas erupted in the Marianas arc, consistent with 1–3 wt.% addition of subducted sediment to the mantle source, or roughly one third of the sedimentary column. The high Th/La in Anatahan magmas is consistent with shallow loss of the top ∼ 50 m of the sedimentary column during subduction.

Objectives Follow-up of celiac disease diagnosed in childhood is variable or nonexistent after transition to adulthood. Outcome, continuity of care, and adherence to a gluten-free diet are poorly documented. We report a 28-yr follow-up of 50 adults in whom the original childhood diagnosis could be confirmed. Methods Original pediatric charts were reviewed, and subjects were invited to undergo dietary evaluation, measurement of bone mineral density, and quality-of-life assessment. The mean duration of celiac was 28.5 yr, median 28.7 yr (range 22-45 yr). The mean and median age of the group was 35 yr. Results Only 22% of patients were enrolled in an adult gastroenterology clinic. Fifty percent were fully compliant with a gluten-free diet; 18% were partially compliant; and 32% were not adhering to diet. The main motivating factor for dietary compliance was avoidance of symptoms rather than avoidance of complications. Eighty-six percent of the females and 21% of the males had iron deficiency. Bone mineral density was subnormal in 32%; 28.9% were osteopenic and 2.6% were osteoporotic. Quality-of-life scores were normal. Conclusions Most patients diagnosed with celiac in childhood receive no medical or dietary supervision after transition to adulthood. One-third are not compliant with diet; the primary motivating factor for those who do comply is avoidance of symptoms rather than fear of complications. The prevalence of preventable and treatable disorders in these young adults highlights a failure of health services after transition from pediatric to adult health care.

Drinking water utilities may be required to change disinfectant to improve water quality and meet more stringent disinfection regulations. This research was conducted to assess and compares chlorin...

This paper assesses the impact that trade unions have on the wage rates paid to workers in Great Britain using data from the Labour Force Survey. By employing a quantile regression model, this analysis is conducted over the entire range of the earnings distribution, where it is found that unions have more scope for increasing the earnings of workers on the very lowest of wage rates. Asymmetries in the effects of union membership and union coverage are also found to exist for employees across all earnings levels.

The He-8 + Pb-208 reaction was studied in the first experiment with the EXOGAM germanium detector array using beam delivered by the SPIRAL facility. gamma-rays from direct and fusion-evaporation reactions were observed with high resolution. gamma-gamma coincidence data were obtained at a beam intensity level of 105 8He particles per second. Specially designed absorbers and beam detectors could further reduce the background radiation by orders of magnitude.

Linkage of IBD to the pericentromeric region of chromosome 16 has been widely confirmed by analyses of multiple populations. The NOD2 gene is located in the peak region of linkage on chromosome 16 and thought to be involved in the activation of nuclear factor (NF) kappaB in response to bacterial components. Mutations in the NOD2 gene are found to be strongly associated with susceptibility to Crohn's disease (CD). A total of 65 Irish CD families were genotyped to determine if NOD2 mutations conferred susceptibility to CD and the prevalence of these mutations in sporadic and familial forms of the disease. The Irish population is relatively homogenous and thus may provide advantages in genetic studies of complex diseases. We confirmed the IBD1 locus as a susceptibility locus for IBD within the Irish population by linkage analysis followed by linkage disequilibrium studies. No significant evidence of linkage was observed to the previously identified regions on chromosomes 1, 12 and 14. In all, 131 CD affected families were then genotyped for seven of the previously published NOD2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Allelic transmission distortion was investigated using the pedigree disequilibrium test (PDT). SNP13 (3020insC) was found to be associated with CD (P=0.0186). Patients who possessed a rare allele of SNP8, 12 or 13 presented earlier when compared to patients without rare variants (mean age, 20.1 vs 24 years, P=0.011) and the rare allele of SNP13 was observed to be predominantly linked to ileal disease (P=0.02). This report confirms the importance of NOD2 as a susceptibility gene for CD within the Irish population.

Summary Background : Patients report that the prophylactic consumption of a proton pump inhibitor minimizes gastrointestinal symptoms expected to be provoked by late-night food and alcohol consumption. The efficacy of this practice has not been studied formally. Aim : To perform a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a single dose of lansoprazole (30 mg) taken prior to a large meal and alcohol consumption. Methods : Study subjects were recruited randomly from local primary care and hospital physicians. Each participant (n = 56; 37 male, 19 female; mean age, 38 years) completed questionnaires before and after the meal. Approximately 90 min prior to the provocative meal, participants were witnessed taking either placebo or 30 mg lansoprazole. Bar tokens were dispensed to permit the accurate quantification of alcohol consumption (mean, 15 units). Results : Forty per cent of subjects reported significant reflux symptoms. For the entire group, there was no significant difference between lansoprazole and placebo. Post-prandial reflux was more frequent in those consuming > 15 units of alcohol (13/26, 50%) compared with those consuming 15 units of alcohol, lansoprazole was associated with a lower rate of heartburn (5/15, 33%) compared with placebo (8/11, 73%; P 15 units of alcohol.

Filter performance has traditionally been assessed using turbidity as the main water quality parameter. However interest in process optimization and the ability to accurately monitor filtration and particle removal has led to particle counting becoming increasingly more popular. The objective of this research was to evaluate filtration performance and filter ripening at four full-scale water treatment plants. Most of the plants investigated in this study were capable of achieving 2 log total particle removal as well as an effluent turbidity of 0.1 NTU. In some cases 2 log removal was achieved in the lower particle size ranges of 2-5 and 5-10 microm. Log removals in this study compare particle counts in the filtered and raw water. For water treatment plants that do not filter to waste, the ripening period following a filter backwash represents a time where the plant may be most vulnerable to breakthrough of waterborne pathogens. For the plants studied, the ripening period which was defined as the time required to reach peak particle removal and a turbidity of 0.1 NTU, were very similar in duration. The ripening period generally lasted for one hour after the backwash event had been completed. Because the times to reach 2 log total particle removal and 0.1 NTU are similar, the practice of using 0.1 NTU turbidity as a measure of filter ripening may be a useful benchmark for utilities that do not have particle counters.

Previous longitudinal research has shown that parental monitoring is a powerful predictor of child outcomes. Children from families with low levels of monitoring are particularly at risk for antisocial behavior, difficulties in school, and related problems. We studied whether parental monitoring—as reported by mothers/stepmothers, fathers/stepfathers, interviewers, and teachers—differs across two-parent biological families, stepmother families, and stepfather families. Two-parent biological families were hypothesized to have higher levels of monitoring than stepparent families. Controlling for demographic differences, two-parent biological families showed higher levels of monitoring than stepfather families but did not differ significantly from stepmother families. The significant difference between stepfather and two-parent biological families involved the length of the relationship: only biological families of shorter duration (9 years or fewer) had higher levels of monitoring than stepfather families.

OBJECTIVES: Previous reports have linked irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) etiologically with various forms of mucosal inflammation, including infectious enterocolitides and inflammatory bowel disease. The mechanism is uncertain but may involve sensitization by inflammatory mediators. The enteropathy of celiac disease has theoretical advantages as a study model because it can be controlled with dietary gluten exclusion; however, whether it also predisposes to functional bowel disorders is unclear. Therefore, we assessed the prevalence of IBS-type symptoms in adult celiac patients and correlated this with dietary compliance with gluten exclusion. METHODS: Adult patients (n = 150; 106 women and 44 men) with confirmed celiac disease were randomly selected from a computerized database of >350 patients, and were asked to complete a bowel questionnaire and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). The control group (n = 162; 133 women and 29 men) had no history of celiac disease and had similar mean age and sex profile. RESULTS: Of 150 celiac patients reviewed, 30 of 150 (20%) fulfilled the Rome criteria compared with eight of 162 (5%) controls. Of the celiac patients 10 of 46 (22%) had partial or no compliance with a gluten-free diet, whereas 20 of 104 patients (19%) adhered to the diet; this difference did not achieve statistical significance. Celiac patients with IBS-type symptoms had a markedly lower quality of life than those without, all eight domains being impaired to a clinically significant extent. Dietary gluten exclusion improved QOL in four of eight scales measured. CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis that mucosal inflammation in celiac disease may have a sensitizing effect or may predispose to IBS-type symptoms is supported by these results. Failure to attain optimal subjective well-being is common in celiac patients, particularly in those with coexisting IBS. Compliance with a gluten-free diet confers some benefit.

Spontaneous chromosome doubling occurred in shoot apices of two diploid (2n = 22) Hatiora ×graeseri Barthlott ex D. Hunt (Easter cactus) clones and yielded stable periclinal cytochimeras with a diploid epidermis and tetraploid subepidermis. The cytochimeras produced disomic gametes (n = 22) and displayed tetrasomic inheritance at polymorphic isozyme loci. Diploid clones were highly self-incompatible (SI) but both cytochimeras were self-compatible (SC). Analysis of pollen tube growth in selfed or outcrossed styles revealed that polyploidy altered the incompatibility phenotype of pollen without affecting the incompatibility phenotype of the pistil. Morphological data (guard cell length, stomatal density, and pollen diameter), segregation ratios at isozyme loci, and fruit/seed yields indicate that S1 progeny are SC, nonchimeral, and tetraploid. Breakdown of the SI system in the cytochimeras was attributed to formation of compatible heteroallelic pollen. These results provide a rational explanation for the correlation between ploidy level and breeding behavior in cacti. Production of SC autotetraploid clones from SI diploids by chromosome doubling may be useful in development of cacti as fruit crops. Self-compatibility (SC) is frequently encountered in artificially induced tetraploids or natural tetraploid relatives of diploid species with one-locus, gametophytic SI (de Nettancourt, 2001). Genera that contain SC tetraploids and SI diploid ancestors include Cam- panula L. (Gairdner, 1926), Nicotiana L. (Pandey, 1968), Oenothera L. (Lewis, 1947), Petunia Juss. (Stout and Chandler, 1942), Pyrus L. (Crane and Lewis, 1942), and Trifolium L. (Brewbaker, 1958; Pandey, 1956). The present research was conducted to examine the relationship between ploidy level and breeding behavior in Hatiora ×graeseri (Cactaceae, subfamily Cactoideae).

Background: Coeliac disease has an increased prevalence in a number of autoimmune endocrine conditions. An association between coeliac disease and Addison's disease has been proposed in isolated case reports, but has not been formally studied. Aim: To investigate the extent of this association. Design: Prospective screening of patients with confirmed Addison's disease. Methods: From central computerized records, we identified all living patients with a diagnosis of autoimmune Addison's disease in the past 30 years and presently attending our affiliated hospitals. After exclusions, 44 were invited to attend for screening. Results: Of 41 patients screened, five (12.2%) had coeliac disease: Three were previously diagnosed coeliacs and this was confirmed on review, including examination of biopsy material. A further two had positive IgA‐endomysial antibodies. Histological confirmation was obtained in both cases. Neither had laboratory or clinical evidence of malabsorption. Discussion: In this series of patients with Addison's disease, a higher co‐morbidity with coeliac disease was observed than in any previously studied endocrine condition. We recommend that coeliac serology (anti‐endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibody) testing be incorporated routinely into the autoimmune screen for other conditions in patients with Addison's disease.

e15135 Background: Refining screening to colorectal cancer (CRC) risk may promote screening effectiveness. We applied the National Cancer Institute (NCI) CRC Risk Assessment Tool to estimate 5- and 10-year CRC risk in an average-risk Veterans cohort undergoing screening colonoscopy with follow-up. Methods: This was a prospective evaluation of predicted to actual risk of CRC using the NCI CRC Risk Assessment Tool in male Veterans undergoing screening colonoscopy with a median follow-up of 10 years.Family, medical, dietary and physical activity histories were collected at enrollment and used to calculate absolute 5- and 10-year CRC risk, and to compare tertiles of expected to observed CRC risk. Sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: For 2,934 male Veterans with complete data (average age 62.4 years, 15% minorities), 1.3% (N=30) and 1.7% (N=50) were diagnosed with CRC within 5 and 10 years of survey completion. The area under the curve for predicting CRC was 0.69 (95% CI; 0.61-0.78) at 5 years and 0.67 (95% CI, 0.59-0.75) at 10 years. We calculated the sensitivity (0.60, 95% CI; 0.45-0.73), specificity (0.67, 95% CI; 0.65-0.69) positive predictive value (0.031, 95% CI; 0.02-0.04) and negative predictive value (0.99, 95% CI; 0.98-0.99). Conclusions: The NCI CRC Risk Assessment Tool was well-calibrated at 5 years and overestimated CRC risk at 10 years, had modest discriminatory function, and a high NPV in a cohort of ethnically diverse male Veterans. This tool reliably excludes 10-year CRC in low-scoring individuals and may inform patient-provider decision making when the benefit of screening is uncertain. [Table: see text]

Migraine, a neurovascular disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of debilitating pain associated with photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to movement, is a significant public health problem in the United States. Migraine is highly prevalent, affecting 17% of women and 6% of men,1 and the socioeconomic burden is substantial. Migraine causes 112 million bedridden days per year, creating considerable disruption to employment and family life.2,3 Moreover, costs of migraine-related disability and treatment in the United States exceed $24 billion annually.2,4 Migraine is comorbid with obesity and other chronic diseases, and this risk may be strongest in women of reproductive age.5-9 Although mechanisms underlying the migraine–obesity link are not well understood, one plausible mechanism is shared inflammatory processes. It is hypothesized that obesity, a low-grade chronic inflammatory state, may exacerbate the neurovascular inflammatory response in migraine.10-12 Migraine and obesity may also be linked through common behavioral risk factors that promote further inflammation, one being poor dietary habits.12,13 Our group recently showed that obese women with migraine spent nearly 1.5 hours per day less in objectively measured physical activity compared to obese women without migraine.14 However, whether usual dietary intake patterns differ between women with and without migraine, and if the relationship between diet and migraine is affected by weight status, is not known. Physicians have long debated the role of diet in migraine.15,16 Given inflammatory processes underlying migraine, both metabolic abnormalities and food allergies have been implicated in migraine onset. Commonly cited dietary triggers include chocolate, cheese, processed meats, and red wine;17 however, to date, there are no studies which unequivocally support the role of specific foods in migraine. Yet, elimination diets are often clinically recommended to mitigate migraine attacks.17,18 Other investigations suggest that eating frequency, meal timing, and the macronutrient composition of the diet may also play a role in migraine.19-21 Specifically, a study in over 1000 adults with migraine found that fasting was associated with migraine onset in 57% of patients.22 Further, results of a prospective cohort trial that evaluated the effects of a low-fat dietary intervention on migraine showed an association between higher fat consumption and higher headache frequency at baseline, and significant decreases in headache frequency, intensity, duration, and medication use following significant decreases in fat consumption at post-intervention.23 These findings suggest that a more detailed and comprehensive examination of dietary intake patterns in persons with and without migraine is warranted to better elucidate the relationship of diet and migraine. The purpose of the current study was twofold. First, we sought to characterize typical dietary intake patterns, including micro- and macronutrient composition, eating frequency, and dietary quality, of women with and without migraine who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Given previous studies conducted in smaller clinic-based samples showing associations of migraine with irregular eating frequency and high-fat diet,20,21,23 we hypothesized that women with migraine would eat less frequently, consume a higher fat diet, and have poorer overall dietary quality as compared to those without migraine. Second, we examined whether the relationship between migraine and dietary intake patterns differed by weight status. In light of the association between obesity and migraine risk, and the fact that diet is an independent risk factor for obesity,24 we anticipated that weight status would confound the relationship between diet and migraine. However, given the role of diet in inflammation and migraine-related and obesity-related comorbidities including elevated blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, we also hypothesized that weight status would modify the relationship between diet and migraine.6,7,13 For example, in an obese woman who already has a significant level of inflammation, eating a pro-inflammatory diet low in omega-3 fatty acids and high in omega-6 fatty acids may differentially relate to migraine status as compared to in a normal weight woman.25,26

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) gene combine with traumatic events to increase risk for post-traumatic stress and major depressive disorders (PTSD and MDD). These SNPs increase FKBP51 protein expression through a mechanism involving demethylation of the gene and altered glucocorticoid signaling. Aged animals also display elevated FKBP51 levels, which contribute to impaired resiliency to depressive-like behaviors through impaired glucocorticoid signaling, a phenotype that is abrogated in FKBP5 2/2 mice. But the age of onset and progressive stability of these phenotypes remain unknown. Moreover, it is unclear how FKBP5 deletion affects other glucocorticoid-dependent processes or if age-associated increases in FKBP51 expression are mediated through a similar epigenetic process caused by SNPs in the FKBP5 gene. Here, we show that FKBP51-mediated impairment in stress resiliency and glucocorticoid signaling occurs by 10 months of age and this increased over their lifespan. Surprisingly, despite these progressive changes in glucocorticoid responsiveness, FKBP5 2/2 mice displayed normal longevity, glucose tolerance, blood composition and cytokine profiles across lifespan, phenotypes normally associated with glucocorticoid signaling. We also found that methylation of Fkbp5 decreased with age in mice, a process that likely explains the age-associated increases in FKBP51 levels. Thus, epigenetic upregulation of FKBP51 with age can selectively impair psychological stress-resiliency, but does not affect other glucocorticoid-mediated physiological processes. This makes FKBP51 a unique and attractive therapeutic target to treat PTSD and MDD. In addition, aged wild-type mice may be a useful model for investigating the mechanisms of FKBP5 SNPs associated with these disorders.

This paper uses HESA data from the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey 2003/04 to examine whether more mobile students in terms of choice of institution and location of employment earn more than those who are less mobile. The clear finding is that mobility is associated with superior earnings outcomes, but principally through mobility as it relates to students extending their horizon of job search. A bivariate probit analysis also confirms that there is a positive relationship between regional mobility both in the choice of attending university and the choice of where to take up employment.