Abundant stable gauge field hair for black holes in anti-de Sitter space

We present new hairy black hole solutions of SU(N) Einstein-Yang-Mills (EYM) theory in asymptotically anti-de Sitter (AdS) space. These black holes are described by N+1 independent parameters and have N-1 independent gauge field degrees of freedom. Solutions in which all gauge field functions have no zeros exist for all N, and for a sufficiently large (and negative) cosmological constant. At least some of these solutions are shown to be stable under classical, linear, spherically symmetric perturbations. Therefore there is no upper bound on the amount of stable gauge field hair with which a black hole in AdS can be endowed.

Brain mediation of Anolis social dominance displays. I. Differential basal ganglia activation

Ritualistic displays of aggressive intent are important social signals, often obviating physically dangerous engagement. To date, however, brain regions mediating such behaviors are not established. Here we used male Anolis carolinensis together with an in vivo 14C-2-deoxyglucose method to determine patterns of brain activation during elicitation of this animal's dominance displays vs. other behaviors. By patching one eye regional brain activation in the hemisphere receiving display-evocative visual stimuli ('seeing' side) was compared to activity in the contralateral brain that did not see specific stimuli ('patched' side); this was quantitated as the ratio of seeing/patched activity for brain regions of interest. Lone males displaying dominantly to mirrors activated dorsolateral basal ganglia (BG) in the seeing, compared to the patched hemisphere; this was not seen in various non-displaying controls. Degree of dorsolateral BG activation also correlated with a measure of dominant display activity, but not with locomotion. In socially stable pairs, displaying dominants showed similar activation of dorsolateral BG, but deactivated ventromedial BG; non-dominant cagemates displaying submissively had the opposite pattern. When cohabiting peacefully without displaying, paired dominants' and subordinates' brain activity patterns were similar to each other. Thus, different BG subsystems seem involved in dominant vs. submissive display behaviors. Given similarities in both social displays and BG organization, homologous brain systems might have similar functions in members of other amniote classes, including primates.

Weight variability and incident disease in older women: the Iowa Women's Health Study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between weight variability and disease incidence in women.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study, following women from 1986 through 1992.

METHODS

A population-based sample of 33834 women aged 55-69 y, free of cancer and heart disease, completed a mail-based survey that included self-reported body weights at ages 18, 30, 40, 50 y, and currently. Weight variability was defined as (1) the root mean square error around the slope of weight on age (RMSE); and (2) categorical measures of weight change. Outcome measures were incidence of myocardial infarction (MI); stroke; diabetes; breast, endometrial, lung, or other cancer; total and hip fractures.

RESULTS

Adjusted relative risks of MI, stroke, diabetes, and hip fracture increased with increasing weight variability. The age and body mass index-adjusted relative risks (RR) for highest vs lowest quartile of RMSE were: MI: 2.03; stroke: 1.61; diabetes: 1.42; breast cancer: 0.85; endometrial cancer: 0.88; lung cancer: 1.70; other cancer: 0.93; total fractures: 1.15; hip fractures: 1.45. The strongest associations between weight change categories and disease were for diabetes (RR compared to small gain/stable weight: large cycle, 1.72; small cycle, 1.55; large gain, 1.80; weight loss, 1.91; other pattern, 1.55). Large weight cycles were associated with higher risk of MI (RR = 1.89) and stroke (RR = 1.71).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are consistent with previous studies and suggest that weight variability is associated with higher risk of developing chronic diseases.

Weight variability and mortality: the Iowa Women's Health Study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between weight variability and risk of mortality in women.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study, 1986-1991.

SUBJECTS

Participants were a population-based sample of 33,760 Iowa women aged 55-69 y, free of cancer and heart disease, who completed a mailed questionnaire including self-reported weight at ages 18, 30, 40, 50 y, and currently. Weight variability was defined by (1) a measure of deviation from the linear regression of each woman's five weights on age (the root mean squared error, RMSE) and (2) categories of weight gain or loss.

MEASUREMENTS

All-cause (n = 1068) and cause-specific mortality.

RESULTS

After adjustment for age and the regression slope of weight on age, women who displayed higher weight variability (RMSE) over their adult years had an increased subsequent 6-y mortality. The relative risks of death for increasing quartiles of RMSE were 1.00 (referent), 1.17, 1.45 and 1.82 (ptrend < 0.001). Positive linear trends were seen across quartiles of RMSE for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and for non-cancer/non-cardiovascular deaths. These associations were attenuated increasingly with (1) statistical adjustment for body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, smoking, education level, physical activity, alcohol intake, marital status and hormone replacement therapy; (2) further adjustment for diabetes and hypertension; and (3) exclusion of women in poor or fair health in 1986. Even so, with all adjustments, relative risks of coronary heart disease mortality for increasing quartiles of RMSE were 1.00 (referent), 1.22, 1.63 and 1.67 (ptrend = 0.049). Using the categorical approach, age-adjusted risks of death were highest in women who had a large weight loss (> 10%) or a large cycle of weight change (> or = 10% loss-gain or gain-loss), compared with women who had a stable weight (within 5%). Adjustment for covariates attenuated these relative risks.

CONCLUSIONS

Women who displayed greater weight variability in adulthood had an increased risk of dying in later life, especially from coronary heart disease. However, to a considerable degree this association seems to be due to other unhealthy characteristics and pre-existing disease among those displaying increased weight variability.

Nutrient and food intake in obese women on a low-fat or low-calorie diet

The low-fat group consumed significantly fewer calories from fat and more calories from carbohydrate at both 6 and 12 months than the low-calorie group, but their fat intake was still about twice their goal at both 6 months (39 gm per day) and 12 months (46 gm per day). The low-calorie group achieved their fat goal of 30% of calorie intake, but they consumed from 300 to 700 kcal more than their calorie goal. Caloric intake, physical activity, palatability, satiety, quality of life, and weight loss were not significantly different by treatment. Two studies, which gave patients hypocaloric diets of varying fat and carbohydrate content (fat calories 10% to 45%) for from 10 to 12 weeks, found no effect of diet composition on weight loss. In addition, one study, which gave patients a low-fat, energy-unrestricted diet (fat calories 19%), reported a weight loss of 10.1 lb at 16 to 20 weeks and 5.7 lb at 9 to 12 months, which is similar to that seen in the low-fat group in the this study. Most of the decrease in fat intake (90%) in the low-fat group resulted from a reduction in intake of fat from fat and oils; meat, fish, and poultry; dairy products; and sweets. The dietary changes in the low-fat group are consistent with those found in one study, which prescribed a 15% fat calorie diet to women with breast cancer. Intake of vitamin C increased in the low-fat group and decreased in the low-calorie group. This difference was significant and was caused by an increased intake of fruits and vegetables in the low-fat group and a decreased consumption of fruits in the low-calorie group. Calcium intake decreased significantly more in the low-calorie group because of a decreased intake of dairy foods.

Food provision vs structured meal plans in the behavioral treatment of obesity

OBJECTIVE

Providing overweight patients with the food they should eat has been shown to significantly improve weight loss in a behavioral treatment program. The objective of this study was to examine the contribution of three components of food provision to these positive effects: the specific meal plans indicating what foods should be eaten at each meal; the food itself; and the fact that the food was provided free.

SUBJECTS

163 overweight women.

DESIGN

Randomized, controlled study with subjects assigned to one of four conditions: (1) a standard behavioral treatment program (SBT) with weekly meetings for six months; (2) SBT plus structured meal plans and grocery lists; (3) SBT plus meal plans plus food provision, with subjects sharing the cost; or (4) SBT plus meal plans plus free food provision.

RESULTS

Subjects in Group 1 lost significantly less weight than subjects in Groups 2-4 at the end of the six month program (-8.0 kg vs -12.0, -11.7 and -11.4 kg respectively) and at follow-up one year later (-3.3 kg vs -6.9, -7.5 and -6.6 kg respectively). No significant differences were seen in weight loss between Groups 2-4, suggesting that the component of food provision that is responsible for its success is the provision of highly structured meal plans and grocery lists. Subjects receiving meal plans were more likely to exhibit an eating pattern of three meals/day, had more definite plans regarding what to eat and reported more favorable changes in foods stored in their homes and in perceived barriers to weight loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Providing structured meal plans and grocery lists improves outcome in a behavioral weight control program; no further benefit is seen by actually giving food to patients.

A randomized trial of counseling for fat restriction versus calorie restriction in the treatment of obesity

OBJECTIVE

to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary counseling focusing on fat reduction (20 g/day) compared to calorie reduction (1000 to 1200 kcal/day) in promoting long-term weight loss in moderately obese women.

DESIGN

One hundred and twenty-two women were randomized to one of the two treatment groups and received intensive dietary counseling in groups of 20 over a period of 18 months.

RESULTS

Among 74 women completing the study, weight losses at 6 months averaged 10.2 lb (n = 39) in the fat counseling group and 8.1 lb (n = 35) in the calorie counseling group. Average weight returned to baseline levels in both groups over the succeeding 12 months despite continued intervention.

CONCLUSION

Although these data provide little support for the immediate clinical utility of low-fat dietary counseling in obesity treatment, the observation that women in the low-fat group were more compliant with treatment directions, rated the diet as being more palatable, and experienced greater reduction in binge eating scores suggests that this approach warrants further study. In addition, time dependent covariance analysis showed that change in fat intake predicted weight change better than change in total energy intake, thus reinforcing the idea that dietary fat may be an important factor in the etiology and treatment of obesity.

An environmental intervention to increase fruit and salad purchases in a cafeteria

BACKGROUND

This study explored the hypothesis that consumption of fruit and salad in a cafeteria setting would increase if the variety of offerings was increased and their price reduced.

METHOD

Food purchases in a cafeteria setting were observed during 3 weeks of baseline observation, 3 weeks of intervention, and 3 weeks of return to baseline conditions. Intervention consisted of doubling the number of fruit choices, increasing salad ingredient selections by three, and reducing the price of both fruit and salad by 50%. The primary outcome measures in the study were daily sales of fruit and salad as assessed by cash register receipts.

RESULTS

Fruit and salad purchases increased threefold in the intervention period compared to those in the nonintervention periods. Women and those trying to control their weight were most likely to make these nutritious food choices.

CONCLUSION

Results of this study support the argument that increasing the number of nutritious food choices and making them more attractive economically may be important to changing food choice behavior. Further exploration of the practical application of the concept is recommended.

Predictors of weight change over two years among a population of working adults: the Healthy Worker Project

The present study examined behavioural predictors of body weight cross-sectionally and longitudinally in a cohort of 1639 male and 1913 female employees in 32 companies participating in a worksite intervention study for smoking cessation and weight control. Dietary intake, current and previous dieting behaviours, and physical activity were examined for their association with body weight over the two-year period. Cross-sectionally in both men and women, history of previous dieting, previous participation in a formal weight loss programme, current dieting and meat consumption were positively related to body weight while high intensity activity was negatively related to body weight. Prospectively, history of participation in a formal weight loss programme and dieting to lose weight at baseline, and increased consumption over time of french fries, dairy products, sweets and meat, independently predicted increases in body weight in women. Women who were dieting to lose weight or who had previously participated in a formal weight loss programme at baseline gained 1.99 lb and 1.74 lb more, respectively, than those who were not dieting to lose weight or who had not previously participated in a formal weight loss programme. Increased exercise, either walking or high intensity activity, predicted decreases in body weight in women (1.76 lb and 1.39 lb, respectively, for each session increase per week). In men, previous participation in a formal weight loss programme predicted increases in body weight over the two-year period. Men who had previously participated in a formal weight loss programme at baseline gained 4.83 lb more than those who had never previously participated in a formal weight loss programme. Increases in consumption of sweets and egg were prospectively related to increases in body weight, while increased walking and high intensity activity were related to decreases in body weight (0.86 lb and 3.54 lb, respectively, for each session increase per week). These results suggest the role that specific diet and exercise behaviours may play in body weight changes over time.

Restrictive smoking policies in the workplace: effects on smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption

BACKGROUND

Thirty-two worksites participating in a randomized trial of worksite health promotion aimed at reducing smoking and obesity were categorized at baseline and 2 years later as having either restrictive or unrestrictive smoking policies. Between the two assessment points, 16 sites received health promotion interventions.

RESULTS

At baseline 15 sites had restrictive policies and 17 unrestrictive policies. Smoking restrictions were associated with significantly lower smoking prevalence and higher lifetime quit rates among ever smokers. They also were associated with more recent quit attempts and lower daily cigarette consumption, although these effects were not significant. Between baseline and follow-up, 9 of the 17 worksites that had few smoking restrictions at baseline became restrictive. Although neither baseline smoking policies nor changes in smoking policy predicted change in smoking prevalence or in the frequency of quit attempts, smokers in sites changing from unrestrictive to restrictive policies reported a significant reduction in daily cigarette consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

The worksite health promotion program was successful in reducing smoking prevalence in intervention sites compared to controls. However, the existence of restrictive smoking policies neither helped nor hindered these intervention efforts. The present data are believed to support the idea that restrictive smoking policies have beneficial effects on the smoking habits of employees, but that the magnitude of this effect is modest.

Factors influencing participation in worksite smoking cessation and weight loss programs: the Healthy Worker Project

Worksite intervention for health behavior change has attracted much recent interest as a potentially cost-effective way to promote healthier behaviors in the general population. In evaluating the impact of health promotion activities, it is essential to consider the entire work force rather than just self-selected participants. Overall, recruitment results reported to date have varied widely. There are a large number of factors pertaining to both employee and worksite characteristics that could contribute to variability in how well worksite health promotion programs attract employees. A critical issue that has received little research attention is the dynamics of participation in employee health promotion programs as they are offered repeatedly over time. The present study examined participation rates and contributing factors in worksite health promotion programs for weight loss and smoking cessation in the Healthy Worker Project, a randomized trial of worksite intervention conducted among 16 intervention and 16 control worksites in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area between 1987 and 1990. Data analyses focused on characterizing individuals enrolling in worksite health promotion programs in comparison to those in the worksite population as a whole who would be considered in need of such programs.

The Healthy Worker Project: a work-site intervention for weight control and smoking cessation

OBJECTIVES

A randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a work-site health promotion program in reducing obesity and the prevalence of cigarette smoking.

METHODS

Thirty-two work sites were randomized to treatment or no treatment for 2 years. Treatment consisted of health education classes combined with a payroll-based incentive system. Evaluation was based on cohort and cross-sectional surveys.

RESULTS

Of 10,000 total employees in treatment work sites, 2041 and 270 participated in weight control and smoking cessation programs, respectively. Weight losses averaged 4.8 lbs, and 43% of smoking participants quit. Net 2-year reductions in smoking prevalence in treatment vs control work sites were 4.0% and 2.1% in cross-sectional and cohort surveys, respectively. No treatment effect was found for weight. Treatment effects for smoking prevalence and weight were both positively correlated with participation rates in the intervention programs (r = .45 for smoking and r = .55 for weight).

CONCLUSIONS

This work-site health promotion program was effective in reducing smoking prevalence at a cost that is believed to make the investment worthwhile.

A theoretically sound and practicable equilibrium dialysis method for measuring percentage of free testosterone

Free testosterone measured in serum equilibrated in vitro is considered a good index of biologically available testosterone even though a large part of free testosterone in vivo is derived locally from rapid dissociation of testosterone bound to albumin. The most accurate method for measuring free testosterone, however, is unsettled. The classical method--equilibrium dialysis--has been questioned because of the dilution of serum that it entails and the previous inability to achieve identical results with diluted and undiluted serum. Essentially identical measurements of free testosterone were achieved in diluted and undiluted charcoal-stripped serum by using the dialysis method and calculation reported here. The measured free testosterone in undiluted whole serum from women was only 4-6% lower than the estimated physiological values. These results were obtained using a validated calculation, controlling pH, using physiological bicarbonate buffer at 37 degrees C, maintaining a constant free ligand concentration for dilutions, measuring the water gain by the dialysis bag, and using highly purified labeled testosterone. The mean free testosterone for normal women was 0.17 ng/dl (0.11-0.23) and for hirsute women was 0.49 ng/dl (0.27-0.71). The testosterone not bound to testosterone-estradiol binding globulin, calculated from free testosterone and albumin concentrations, was close to the production rate/min of testosterone. The method should be adaptable to other ligands.

Numerical inversion of the Perrin equations for rotational and translational diffusion constants by iterative techniques

An iterative numerical technique is presented which allows the semiaxes for prolate and oblate ellipsoids to be determined from the Perrin equations for rotational and translational diffusion constants. The use of this inversion technique is illustrated by application to the proteins: lysozyme, bovine serum albumin, human transferrin, and bovine rhodopsin solubilized in digitonin.