Phylogenetically Widespread Polyembryony in Cyclostome Bryozoans and the Protracted Asynchronous Release of Clonal Brood-Mates

The file attached is the Published/publisher’s pdf version of the articl

On the Schoenberg Transformations in Data Analysis: Theory and Illustrations

The class of Schoenberg transformations, embedding Euclidean distances into higher dimensional Euclidean spaces, is presented, and derived from theorems on positive definite and conditionally negative definite matrices. Original results on the arc lengths, angles and curvature of the transformations are proposed, and visualized on artificial data sets by classical multidimensional scaling. A simple distance-based discriminant algorithm illustrates the theory, intimately connected to the Gaussian kernels of Machine Learning

Study protocol to investigate the effect of a lifestyle intervention on body weight, psychological health status and risk factors associated with disease recurrence in women recovering from breast cancer treatment

Background Breast cancer survivors often encounter physiological and psychological problems related to their diagnosis and treatment that can influence long-term prognosis. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of a lifestyle intervention on body weight and psychological well-being in women recovering from breast cancer treatment, and to determine the relationship between changes in these variables and biomarkers associated with disease recurrence and survival. Methods/design Following ethical approval, a total of 100 patients will be randomly assigned to a lifestyle intervention (incorporating dietary energy restriction in conjunction with aerobic exercise training) or normal care control group. Patients randomised to the dietary and exercise intervention will be given individualised healthy eating dietary advice and written information and attend moderate intensity aerobic exercise sessions on three to five days per week for a period of 24 weeks. The aim of this strategy is to induce a steady weight loss of up to 0.5 Kg each week. In addition, the overall quality of the diet will be examined with a view to (i) reducing the dietary intake of fat to ~25% of the total calories, (ii) eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, (iii) increasing the intake of fibre and reducing refined carbohydrates, and (iv) taking moderate amounts of alcohol. Outcome measures will include body weight and body composition, psychological health status (stress and depression), cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life. In addition, biomarkers associated with disease recurrence, including stress hormones, estrogen status, inflammatory markers and indices of innate and adaptive immune function will be monitored. Discussion This research will provide valuable information on the effectiveness of a practical, easily implemented lifestyle intervention for evoking positive effects on body weight and psychological well-being, two important factors that can influence long-term prognosis in breast cancer survivors. However, the added value of the study is that it will also evaluate the effects of the lifestyle intervention on a range of biomarkers associated with disease recurrence and survival. Considered together, the results should improve our understanding of the potential role that lifestyle-modifiable factors could play in saving or prolonging lives

Long-term effect of lifestyle intervention on adiposity, metabolic parameters, inflammation and physical fitness in obese children: a randomized controlled trial

Epidemiology in Pediatrics and Child Healt

Indicators guidelines : to adopt an indicators-based approach to evaluate coastal sustainable development

The Indicators Guidelines (IG) report contains the most significant conclusions, results and products obtained from the development of the INTERREG IIIC South DEDUCE project during the period 2004-2007. The general goal of the project is to test the set of indicators proposed in 2003 by the EU Working Group on Indicators and Data at various scales and levels of governance. This covers European level, the member states, regional and local authorities. The calculation process developed by the DEDUCE partners, pursues two objectives: To propose a common methodological framework, To illustrate the relevance and usefulness of the indicators approach. The IG is intended to demonstrate, that the current coastal policy framework does not define a consistent and common approach to the measurement and evaluation of the levels of sustainability in EU coastal and maritime zones (Chapter 2). Despite this, some emerging and existing integrated policies, such as the EU Green Paper on Maritime Policy and the European Strategy for Sustainable Development do consider this approach. Only a few existing policies (e.g. EU Water Framework Directive) define the indicators and thresholds of acceptance in detail.peer-reviewe

Guide d’utilisation des indicateurs - mettre en oeuvre une approche basée sur les indicateurs pour évaluer le développement durable sur le littoral

Ce rapport contient les conclusions, les résultats et les produits les plus significatifs du projet INTERREG IIIC Sud "DEDUCE" pendant la période 2004-2007. L'objectif général du projet était de tester la série d'indicateurs proposée en 2003 par le groupe de travail européen "Indicateurs et données" à des échelles et des niveaux de gouvernance différents, à savoir le niveau européen, les Etats membres et les autorités locales et régionales. Le processus de calcul élaboré par les partenaires de DEDUCE poursuit deux buts :• Proposer un cadre méthodologique commun ; • Illustrer la pertinence et l'utilité de l'approche basée sur des indicateurs.Il souhaite montrer que le cadre actuel des politiques côtières ne définit pas une approche cohérente et commune en matière de mesure et d'évaluation des niveaux de durabilité dans les zones côtières et marines de l'Union Européenne (Chapitre 2). Cependant, une telle approche est présente dans certaines politiques intégrées existantes ou émergentes, telles que le Livre vert sur la future politique maritime européenne et la Stratégie européenne en faveur du développement durable. Par ailleurs, seul un petit nombre de politiques existantes (par exemple, la Directive Cadre sur l'Eau) définissent de manière détaillée des indicateurs et des seuils d'acceptation. Il présente et explique la proposition de cadre méthodologique pour les indicateurs de développement durable dans les zones côtières et marines (Chapitre 3) élaborée par DEDUCE. Ce faisant, il essaie de combler le manque d'approche commune. Cette proposition s'articule autour de trois éléments principaux, qui correspondent aux trois questions suivantes :• Comment peut-on calculer des indicateurs selon une méthodologie commune ? Des méthodologies de calcul de 45 mesures avec un format standard et approprié pour toutes les régions et tous les pays de l'Union Européenne ont été définies ; • Quels sont les principaux problèmes et obstacles rencontrés au cours du processus de calcul ? 180 fiches de calcul, à des échelles différentes, décrivent les difficultés, les forces et les faiblesses de l'obtention et du traitement des données relatives à chacune des mesures ; • Comment pouvons-nous intégrer les résultats et les conclusions et quels sont les conclusions du processus de calcul ? 25 fiches de synthèse montrent les avantages d'une analyse comparative entre les différents niveaux géographiques.Tous ces éléments, ainsi que d'autres, issus du projet DEDUCE, sont disponibles sur le site www.deduce.eu. Le développement méthodologique comprend également un point de vue pragmatique sur la mise en œuvre de la directive INSPIRE pour les zones côtières et marines en utilisant une infrastructure de données spatiales commune. Les difficultés et les obstacles au développement de cette infrastructure sont analysés à partir des réponses à un questionnaire concernant les systèmes d’information géographique littoraux mis en œuvre par les partenaires de DEDUCE. Les arguments en faveur de l'utilité du cadre méthodologique pour les indicateurs de développement durable dans les zones côtières et marines sont détaillés autour des thèmes suivants (Chapitre 4) :• Utilité d'évaluer l'aménagement et la gestion dans les zones côtières et marines ; • Utilité d'intégrer et de coordonner les analyses et la recherche dans les zones côtières et marines ; • Possibilité d'améliorer la visibilité et la perception des zones côtières et marines.Le rapport donne également des exemples d'application pratique de ce cadre méthodologique à travers sept expériences qui ont été mises en œuvre du niveau européen au niveau local. Les sept fiches de synthèse sont structurées autour des sept objectifs de la Recommandation européenne relative à la Gestion Intégrée des Zones Côtières (2002). Elles comprennent les résultats des calculs, l'analyse intégrée et des informations pratiques relatives à l'utilisation du cadre méthodologique pour les indicateurs (Chapitre 5). Enfin, le dernier chapitre du rapport (Chapitre 6) présente :• L'évaluation finale du processus de calcul élaboré par les partenaires de DEDUCE ; • Des recommandations pour améliorer la série d'indicateurs proposée par le groupe de travail européen "Indicateurs et données", sur la base de 6 séminaires nationaux et d'une conférence technique organisée à Tarragone (mars 2007) ; • Les travaux ultérieurs requis pour compléter l'approche du cadre méthodologique basé sur des indicateurs en vue de construire un système d'informations maritimes cohérent.peer-reviewe

The effectiveness of physical activity monitoring and distance counselling in an occupational health setting - a research protocol for a randomised controlled trial (CoAct)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The CoAct (Cocreating Activity) study is investigating a novel lifestyle intervention, aimed at the working population, with daily activity monitoring and distance counselling via telephone and secure web messages. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of lifestyle counselling on the level of physical activity in an occupational health setting. The purposes include also analysing the potential effects of changes in physical activity on productivity at work and sickness absence, and healthcare costs. This article describes the design of the study and the participant flow until and including randomization.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>CoAct is a randomised controlled trial with two arms: a control group and intervention group with daily activity monitoring and distance counselling. The intervention focuses on lifestyle modification and takes 12 months. The study population consists of volunteers from 1100 eligible employees of a Finnish insurance company. The primary outcomes of this study are change in physical activity measured in MET minutes per week, work productivity and sickness absence, and healthcare utilisation. Secondary outcomes include various physiological measures. Cost-effectiveness analysis will also be performed. The outcomes will be measured by questionnaires at baseline, after 6, 12, and 24 months, and sickness absence will be obtained from the employer's registers.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>No trials are yet available that have evaluated the effectiveness of daily physical activity monitoring and distance counselling in an occupational health setting over a 12 month period and no data on cost-effectiveness of such intervention are available.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00994565</p

Testing the activitystat hypothesis: a randomised controlled trial protocol

Background: The activitystat hypothesis proposes that when physical activity or energy expenditure is increased or decreased in one domain, there will be a compensatory change in another domain to maintain an overall, stable level of physical activity or energy expenditure. To date, there has been no experimental study primarily designed to test the activitystat hypothesis in adults. The aim of this trial is to determine the effect of two different imposed exercise loads on total daily energy expenditure and physical activity levels. Methods. This study will be a randomised, multi-arm, parallel controlled trial. Insufficiently active adults (as determined by the Active Australia survey) aged 18-60 years old will be recruited for this study (n=146). Participants must also satisfy the Sports Medicine Australia Pre-Exercise Screening System and must weigh less than 150 kg. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups using a computer-generated allocation sequence. Participants in the Moderate exercise group will receive an additional 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week for six weeks, and those in the Extensive exercise group will receive an additional 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week for six weeks. Exercise targets will be accumulated through both group and individual exercise sessions monitored by heart rate telemetry. Control participants will not be given any instructions regarding lifestyle. The primary outcome measures are activity energy expenditure (doubly labeled water) and physical activity (accelerometry). Secondary measures will include resting metabolic rate via indirect calorimetry, use of time, maximal oxygen consumption and several anthropometric and physiological measures. Outcome measures will be conducted at baseline (zero weeks), mid- and end-intervention (three and six weeks) with three (12 weeks) and six month (24 week) follow-up. All assessors will be blinded to group allocation. Discussion. This protocol has been specifically designed to test the activitystat hypothesis while taking into account the key conceptual and methodological considerations of testing a biologically regulated homeostatic feedback loop. Results of this study will be an important addition to the growing literature and debate concerning the possible existence of an activitystat. Trial registration. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12610000248066