A polymorphism near IGF1 is associated with body composition and muscle function in women from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study

Previous studies have reported associations of polymorphisms in the IGF1 gene with phenotypes of body composition (BC). The purpose of this study was to identify phenotypes of BC and physical function that were associated with the IGF1 promoter polymorphism (rs35767, −C1245T). Subjects from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study, white males and females (n = 925/836) and black males and females (533/705) aged 70–79 years were genotyped for the polymorphism. Phenotypes of muscle size and function, bone mineral density, and BC were analyzed for associations with this polymorphism. To validate and compare these findings, a cohort of young (mean age = 24.6, SD = 5.9) white men and women (n = 173/296) with similar phenotypic measurements were genotyped. An association with BC was identified in elderly females when significant covariates (physical activity, age, smoking status, body mass index) were included. White women with C/C genotype had 3% more trunk fat and 2% more total fat than those with C/T (P < 0.05). Black women with C/C genotype had 3% less total lean mass and 3% less muscle mass than their T/T counterparts (P < 0.05). Associations were identified with muscle strength in white women (P < 0.01) that were in agreement with the C/C genotype having lower muscle function. Thus, in an elderly population but not a young population, a polymorphism in the IGF1 gene may be predictive of differences in body composition, primarily in black females

Partition of neutral molecules and ions from water to o-nitrophenyl octyl ether and of neutral molecules from the gas phase to o-nitrophenyl octyl ether

YesWe have set out an equation for partition of 87 neutral molecules from water to o-nitrophenyl octyl ether, NPOE, an equation for partition of the 87 neutral molecules and 21 ionic species from water to NPOE, and an equation for partition of 87 neutral molecules from the gas phase to NPOE. Comparison with equations for partition into other solvents shows that, as regards partition of neutral (nonelectrolyte) compounds, NPOE would be a good model for 1,2-dichloroethane and for nitrobenzene. In terms of partition of ions and ionic species, NPOE is quite similar to 1,2-dichloroethane and not far away from other aprotic solvents such as nitrobenzene

Soil organic carbon in the rocky desert of northern Negev (Israel)

Purpose So far, the soil organic carbon (SOC) literature is dominated by studies in the humid environments with hugestocks of vulnerable carbon. Limited attention has been given to dryland ecosystems despite being often consideredto be highly sensitive to environmental change. Thus, there is insufficient research about the spatial patterns of SOCstocks and the interaction between soil depth, ecohydrology, geomorphic processes, and SOC stocks. This study aimed atidentifying the relationship between surface characteristics, vegetation coverage, SOC, and SOC stocks in the aridnorthern Negev in Israel.Materials and methods The study site Sede Boker is ideally suited because of well-researched but variable ecohydrology.For this purpose, we sampled five slope sections with different ecohydrologic characteristics (e.g., soil and vegetation)and calculate SOC stocks. To identify controlling factors of SOC stocks on rocky desert slopes, we comparedsoil properties, vegetation coverage, SOC concentration, and stocks between the five ecohydrologic units.Results and discussion The results show that in Sede Boker, rocky desert slopes represent a significant SOC pool with amean SOC stock of 0.58 kg C m−2 averaged over the entire study area. The spatial variability of the soil coverage representsa strong control on SOC stocks, which varies between zero in uncovered areas and 1.54 kg C m−2 onaverage in the soil-covered areas. Aspect-driven changes of solar radiation and thus of water availability are thedominant control of vegetation coverage and SOC stock in the study area.Conclusions The data indicate that dryland soils contain a significant amount of SOC. The SOC varies between theecohydrologic units, which reflect (1) aspect-driven differences, (2) microscale topography, (3) soil formation, and (4)vegetation coverage, which are of greatest importance for estimating SOC stocks in drylands