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Brown adipose tissue (BAT) in rodents appears to be an important tissue for the clearance of plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) contributing to improved metabolic health. However, the role of human BAT in plasma BCAA clearance is poorly understood. Here, we evaluate patients with prostate cancer who underwent positron emission tomography-computed tomography imaging after an injection of 18F-fluciclovine (L-leucine analog). Supraclavicular adipose tissue (AT; primary location of human BAT) has a higher net uptake rate for 18F-fluciclovine compared to subcutaneous abdominal and upper chest AT. Supraclavicular AT 18F-fluciclovine net uptake rate is lower in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Finally, the expression of genes involved in BCAA catabolism is higher in the supraclavicular AT of healthy people with high BAT volume compared to those with low BAT volume. These findings support the notion that BAT can potentially function as a metabolic sink for plasma BCAA clearance in people.

The energy dependence of high-yield fission products has been measured using quasi-monoenergetic neutron beams at energies between 5.5 and 11.0 MeV. The absolute number of fissions during the irradiation period was determined via dual-fission ionization chambers, while the fission products were measured via direct g-ray spectroscopy. This paper presents absolute fission product yields from neutron-induced fission of 235U, 238U, and 239Pu isotopes for five incident energies in the second chance fission region.

The article focuses on the impact of comic books and sports fandom on the author's identity and career. Topics include the role of autoethnography in studying popular culture and fandom, the application of parasocial theory to understand the relationships between fans and fictional characters, and the influence of specific fandoms like Batman, Blue Beetle, and the New York Giants on the author's academic journey.

Compiled with data from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey, this study found that more than 2.9 million low-income adults in California lack sufficient resources to adequately put food on the table on a stable basis and thus are considered "food insecure." Among these food insecure adults, almost 900,000 suffer from episodes of hunger, while the remaining two million live precariously at risk for hunger month to month. In addition to the statewide findings, the report estimates food insecurity within each county and smaller-county consolidation, determining that food insecurity and hunger are found throughout California with prevalence of food insecurity varying significantly, from a low of 20.4% to a high of 45.2%. The prevalence of having experienced hunger also varied significantly across the state from a low of 3.7% to a high of 21.1%. The publication also examines food insecurity and hunger across many vulnerable populations, including ethnicity. Low-income African Americans and Latinos have higher proportions of food insecure adults (37.3% and 38.2%, respectively) than do Whites, 28.1%, while Asians, 23.8%, are least likely of all low-income groups to be food insecure. African American adults have the highest proportion reporting episodes of hunger, 13.8% compared to 12.1% of Whites and 9.7% of Latinos. Asians have the lowest proportion of low-income adults reporting food insecurity with hunger, only 3.9%. The authors also make several policy recommendations to address the growing problem of food insecurity, including increasing household incomes by increasing the minimum wage and expanding low-income housing to help reduce the competition between household economic pressures, such as affordable housing, child care, and health care, and adequate nutritious food. Recognizing tight budgets facing State government, the authors recommend expanding efforts to increase participation in Federal food assistance programs such as the Food Stamp program. Drawing down federal resources to reduce food insecurity in California should be a top priority.

Compiled with data from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey, this study found that more than three-quarters of a million low-income adults in Los Angeles County have a difficult time reliably putting enough food on the table and thus are considered "food insecure." Among these adults, 214,000 suffer from hunger and another 561,000 live at risk for hunger day to day. Most importantly, the study found that food insecurity and hunger are found in all parts of the county. Food insecurity among low-income adults is most likely to affect African Americans (36.1%) and Latinos (33.2%), while one out of four low-income Asian adults (25.4%) and one out of five Whites (20.9%) are estimated to experience food insecurity. In addition to the countywide findings, the report estimates food insecurity within the eight service planning areas managed by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and for each of the county's 26 health districts. The authors also make several policy recommendations to address the problem of food insecurity, including increasing capacity and outreach efforts of food banks and charitable food programs and expanding government efforts to increase participation in food assistance programs such as the Food Stamp program.

Introduction Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) [1-6]. The literature to date has focused on reduced renal production of circulating 1,25dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25[(OH).sub.2]D] [...], Background Vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) and catabolism have not been examined in the clinical setting of childhood chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods The concentrations of serum vitamin D {25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25[(OH).sub.2]D], 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [24,25[(OH).sub.2]D]}, DBP, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) were measured in 148 participants with CKD stages 2-5D secondary to congenital anomalies of the kidney/urinary tract (CAKUT), glomerulonephritis (GN), or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Free and bioavailable 25(OH)D concentrations were calculated using total 25(OH)D, albumin, and DBP concentrations. Results The concentrations of all vitamin D metabolites were lower with more advanced CKD (p Conclusions Children with CKD exhibit altered catabolism and concentrations of DBP and free and bioavailable 25(OH)D, and there is an important impact of their underlying disease. Keywords Vitamin D catabolism * Vitamin D-binding protein * Glomerular disease * Chronic kidney disease * Pediatric

Drug courts are popular for dealing with drug-abusing offenders. However, relatively little is known about participant characteristics that reliably predict either success or failure in these treatment settings. In this article, we report on 99 individuals who were enrolled in a drug court program (approximately one-half of whom successfully completed the program). Using, logistic regression techniques we identified 2 significant predictors of outcome. First, individuals who were employed at the time of their enrollment into the drug court program were more likely to successfully complete the treatment program. Second, individuals with a history of illicit intravenous drug use were less likely to complete the program. Keywords: Drug court program, drug abuse treatment, predictor of treatment outcome, INTRODUCTION There is a compelling need to provide effective treatment for drug-abusing persons in the criminal justice system (1). The relationship between drug use and crime has been documented and [...]

Objective. We sought to evaluate preventive cancer screening compliance among adults with disability in California. Methods. We used data from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey to compare disabled and nondisabled adults for differences in preventive cancer screening behaviors. Compliance rates for cancer screening tests (mammography, Papanicolaou test, prostate-specific antigen, sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy, and fecal occult blood test) between the 2 subpopulations were evaluated. Results. Women with disabilities were 17% (Papanicolaou tests) and 13% (mammograms) more likely than women without disabilities to report noncompliance with cancer screening guidelines. Interactions between disability and reports of a doctor recommendation on cervical cancer screening were significant; women with disabilities had a lower likelihood of receiving a recommendation. Men with disabilities were 19% less likely than men without disabilities to report a prostate-specific antigen test within the last 3 years. Conclusions. Despite higher rates of health insurance and more stable access to care, significant differences in the use of preventive cancer screening services by persons with disabilities persist. Symmetries in health promotion behaviors among the subpopulations suggest that individual health behaviors may be secondary to structural and/or clinical factors underpinning the differences found. (Am J Public Health. 2005;95:2057-2064. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2005.066118)