Tobacco outlet density and demographics: analysing the relationships with a spatial regression approach.

OBJECTIVE: Studies of relationships between tobacco sales and socio-economic/sociodemographic characteristics are well documented. However, when analysing the data that are collected on geographic areas, the spatial effects are seldom considered, which could lead to potential misleading analytical results. This study addresses this concern by applying the spatial analysis method in studying how socio-economic factors and tobacco outlet density are related in New Jersey, USA. STUDY DESIGN: A spatial regression method applied to tobacco outlet and socio-economic data obtained in 2004 in New Jersey, USA. METHOD: This study assessed the association between tobacco outlet density and three demographic correlates - income, race and ethnicity - at the tract level of analysis for one state in the north-eastern USA. Data for 1938 residential census tracts in the state of New Jersey were derived from 2004 licences for 13,984 tobacco-selling retail outlets. Demographic variables were based on 2000 census data. When applying a regression model, the residuals of an ordinary least squared (OLS) estimation were found to exhibit strong spatial autocorrelation, which indicates that the estimates from the OLS model are biased and inferences based on the estimates might be misleading. A spatial lag model was employed to incorporate the potential spatial effects explicitly. RESULTS: Agreeing with the OLS residual autocorrelation test, the spatial lag model yields a significant coefficient of the added spatial effect, and fits the data better than the OLS model. In addition, the residuals of the spatial regression model are no longer autocorrelated, which indicates that the analysis produces more reliable results. More importantly, the spatial regression results indicate that tobacco companies attempt to promote physical availability of tobacco products to geographic areas with disadvantageous socio-economic status. In New Jersey, the percentage of Hispanics seems to be the dominant demographic factor associated with tobacco outlet distribution, followed by median household income and percentage of African Americans. CONCLUSION: This research applied a spatial analytical approach to assess the association between tobacco outlet density and sociodemographic characteristics in New Jersey at the census tract level. The findings support the common wisdom in the public health research domain that tobacco outlets are more densely distributed in socio-economically disadvantaged areas. However, incorporating the spatial effects explicitly in the analysis provides less biased and more reliable results than traditional methods.

A laboratory apparatus for streaming potential and resistivity measurements on soil samples.

We describe an apparatus designed to perform streaming potential and resistivity measurements on unconsolidated soil samples. The apparatus enables the use of both unidirectional and oscillatory flow methods to measure the streaming potential coupling coefficient (C); the direct current resistivity method is used to measure the bulk resistivity (rho) of the soil sample. Measuring both of these parameters on the same sample under the same conditions enables us to properly characterize the streaming current cross-coupling coefficient (L). The apparatus is designed to test reconstituted saturated soil samples up to a maximum grain size of 9.5 mm, and hydraulic gradients from less than 0.1 up to a maximum of 4 m of H(2)Om in flow-through experiments. Excellent agreement between C values measured using the unidirectional and oscillatory flow methods validates the oscillatory flow method for unconsolidated samples.

Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants.

This report represents the conclusions of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee convened to evaluate the safety of various food additives, including flavouring agents, with a view to recommending acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) and to preparing specifications for identity and purity. The Committee also evaluated the risk posed by two food contaminants, with the aim of advising on risk management options for the purpose of public health protection. The first part of the report contains a general discussion of the principles governing the toxicological evaluation and assessment of intake of food additives (in particular flavouring agents) and contaminants. A summary follows of the Committee's evaluations of technical, toxicological and intake data for certain food additives (acidified sodium chlorite, asparaginase from Aspergillus oryzae expressed in Aspergillus oryzae, carrageenan and processed Eucheuma seaweed, cyclotetraglucose and cyclotetraglucose syrup, isoamylase from Pseudomonas amyloderamosa, magnesium sulfate, phospholipase A1 from Fusarium venenatum expressed in Aspergillus oryzae, sodium iron(III) ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and steviol glycosides); eight groups of related flavouring agents (linear and branched-chain aliphatic, unsaturated, unconjugated alcohols, aldehydes, acids and related esters; aliphatic acyclic and alicyclic terpenoid tertiary alcohols and structurally related substances; simple aliphatic and aromatic sulfides and thiols; aliphatic acyclic dials, trials and related substances; aliphatic acetals; sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds; aliphatic and aromatic amines and amides; and aliphatic alicyclic linear alpha, beta -unsaturated di- and trienals and related alcohols, acids and esters); and two food contaminants (aflatoxin and ochratoxin A). Specifications for the following food additives were revised: maltol and ethyl maltol, nisin preparation, pectins, polyvinyl alcohol, and sucrose esters of fatty acids. Specifications for the following flavouring agents were revised: maltol and ethyl maltol, maltyl isobutyrate, 3-acetyl-2,5-dimethylfuran and 2,4,5-trimethyl-delta-oxazoline (Nos 1482, 1506 and 1559), and monomenthyl glutarate (No. 1414), as well as the method of assay for the sodium salts of certain flavouring agents. Annexed to the report are tables summarizing the Committee's recommendations for intakes and toxicological evaluations of the food additives and contaminants considered.

Restoration of the wild-type locus in an RuBP carboxylase/oxygenase mutant of Synechocystis PCC 6803 via targeted gene recombination.

The interaction between homologous DNA sequences, distant from each other in the chromosome, was examined in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803. Most of the rbcL gene encoding the large subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) was duplicated in the genome by a targeted insertion of a 3'-truncated gene copy into the psb A-I locus. Both rbcL genes, in the psb A-I region and at the rbc locus, were non-functional; The former due to the 3' truncation, and the latter due to a deletion in the 5'-region (creating a 5' truncation) and a mutation associated with an insertion of the Rhodospirillum rubrum rbc gene, yielding a high-CO2-requiring mutant ('cyanorubrum'). The 3' and the 5' truncated rbcL genes were linked to chloramphenicol and kanamycin resistance markers, respectively. Decreasing the kanamycin selective pressure concomitantly with exposure of the double resistance mutant to air, resulted in air-growing colonies. Analysis of their genomes, Rubisco proteins, and their ultrastructure revealed: 1) Reconstitution of a full-length cyanobacterial rbcL gene at the rbc locus; 2) simultaneous synthesis of the cyanobacterial (L8S8) and R. rubrum (L2) enzymes in meroploids containing both mutated and reconstituted rbcL genes; 3) reappearance of carboxysomes. Our results indicate extensive recombinatorial interactions between the homologous sequences at both loci leading to reconstitution of the cyanobacterial rbcL gene.

Design, construction, and use of an electroporator for plant protoplasts and animal cells.

We have designed and constructed an electroporation device capable of efficient transfer of DNA into both plant cell protoplasts and cultured murine lymphocytes. The electroporator design allows various combinations of voltage and capacitance to be used to optimize the electric pulse. Switching of large voltages and currents is accomplished with a silicon-controlled rectifier, yielding excellent reproducibility and long component life. A safety switch is provided to permit complete discharge of the device. Conditions suitable for high levels of transient expression and high frequencies of stable transformation for both plant and animal cell systems have been found.

Time allocation patterns of occupational therapists in Israel: implications for job satisfaction.

This study analyzes the time allocation patterns at work of a sample group of Israeli occupational therapists who function in different roles and specialty areas. The sample consisted of 89 female occupational therapists working in the areas of physical impairment, rehabilitation, psychiatry, and pediatrics. Subjects recorded all of their activities during one work week and rated 23 previously identified occupational therapy activities according to perceived levels of importance. The results indicated that, on the whole, occupational therapists in all areas devoted at least two-thirds of their time to treatment-related activities (direct and indirect treatment). The results led us to conclude that the time allocation patterns used may have been conducive to "burnout." Therefore, to facilitate professional growth, we recommend that priorities be set and followed and also that role definitions be adhered to more strictly.

The social environment of malnourished children compared with that of other children in Jamaica.

PIP: Part of a longitudinal study of mental development of 17 Jamaican children who were admitted to hospital with severe protein energy malnutrition. The children were compared with 20 adequately nourished children who were admitted to hospital for other reasons. Previous research had shown that 1 month after the children left the hospital, both groups had similar scores on a modified Caldwell Inventory of Home Stimulation. When, in the present investigation, the inventory was repeated 24 months later, scores remained similar in both groups. When compared with data collected from a survey in a poor neighborhood, again the scores of the neighborhood children were similar to those of the malnourished group. The malnourished children were, however, living in poorer houses and had failed to catch up to the other groups in nutritional status. Comparison of these findings with those from other countries suggests that the ecology of malnutrition differs in different cultures and that Jamaican mothers of malnourished children are characterized by poverty rather than poor maternal-child relationships. It also appears that, at this age, poor levels of home stimulation were not a factor in producing the deficit in development manifested by the malnourished group.^ieng

Social environment of malnourished children compared with that of other children in Jamaica

This investigation was part of a longitudinal study of mental development of seventeen Jamaican children who were admitted to hospital with severe protein energy malnutrition. The children were compared with 20 adequately nourished children who were admitted to hospital for other reasons. Previous research had shown that, 1 month after the children left hospital, both groups had similar scores on a modified Caldwell inventory of Home Stimulation. When, in the present investigation, the inventory was repeated 24 months later, scores remained similar in both groups. When compared with data collected from a survey in a poor neighbourhood, again the scores of the neighbourhood children were similar to those of the malnourished group. The malnourished children were however living in poorer houses and had failed to catch up to the other groups in nutritional status. Comparison of these findings with those from other countries suggests that the ecology of malnutrition differs in different cultures and that Jamaican mothers of malnourished children are characterized by poverty rather than poor maternal-child relationships. It also appears that, at this age, poor levels of home stimulation were not a major factor in producing the deficit in development manifested by the malnourished group.(AU)

Unusual chemical properties of the amino groups of insulin: implications for structure-function relationship.

The chemical properties of the three amino groups of insulin were obtained at 10 and 37 degrees C using the competitive labelling technique with acetic anhydride as the labelling reagent. At 10 degrees C, pK values of 7.9, 7.2, and 7.8 were found for the glycyl A1, phenylalanyl B1, and lysyl B29 amino groups. When compared with standard amino compounds by means of a Brønsted plot, the two amino-termini were found to be 'super-reactive' and the lysyl epsilon-amino group buried. In the presence of carbon dioxide at physiological pH values, all three amino groups became much less reactive indicating that they had reacted to form carbamino derivatives. Above pH 8 the reactivities of the glycyl amino terminus and epsilon-amino group increase sharply indicating that insulin is undergoing a conformational change which is most likely a change in its association state. At 37 degrees C the amino groups do not titrate normally but exhibit sharp increases in reactivity over the physiological pH range with the midpoints in the pH reactivity profiles between pH values of 7.0 and 7.3. This behaviour is interpreted as a rapid disaggregation of insulin to form monomers as a result of the ionization of the amino groups. It is concluded that at physiological pH and temperature all three amino groups are deprotonated.