Birth of a biome: insights into the assembly and maintenance of the Australian arid zone biota.

The integration of phylogenetics, phylogeography and palaeoenvironmental studies is providing major insights into the historical forces that have shaped the Earth's biomes. Yet our present view is biased towards arctic and temperate/tropical forest regions, with very little focus on the extensive arid regions of the planet. The Australian arid zone is one of the largest desert landform systems in the world, with a unique, diverse and relatively well-studied biota.

Relationship between the kinetics and kinematics of a unilateral horizontal drop jump to sprint performance.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the kinematics and kinetics of a single-leg horizontal drop jump (SLDJ) to sprint performance. Twenty regional-level male team-sport athletes gave informed consent to participate in this study. All subjects performed a series of 25-m sprints (measured by dual-beam infrared timing lights) and SLDJ (with both legs) in randomized block order during the same testing session.

Mutations in the amino-terminal region of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) in patients with early-onset obesity impair POMC sorting to the regulated secretory pathway.

Context: Mutations in the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene that impair the synthesis or structure of POMC-derived peptides predispose to human obesity.

Objective: Our objective was to identify and characterize novel mutations in the POMC gene found in patients with early-onset obesity.

Design And Patients: The POMC gene was screened in 500 patients with severe early-onset obesity.

The effect of meal replacements high in glycomacropeptide on weight loss and markers of cardiovascular disease risk.

Background: Glycomacropeptide (GMP) is a peptide that has been shown to stimulate release of cholecystokinin, which may promote satiety.

Objective: The aim of this one-year study was to examine whether greater weight loss could be achieved and sustained with a GMP-enriched whey powder supplement compared with a skim milk powder supplement.

Design: In a double-blind, randomized, parallel-design study using meal replacements, weight, body composition (determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), blood pressure, fasting lipids, glucose, and insulin were measured at baseline, 6, and 12 mo.

Relative information content of polymorphic microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA for inferring dispersal and population genetic structure in the olive sea snake, Aipysurus laevis.

Polymorphic microsatellites are widely considered more powerful for resolving population structure than mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers, particularly for recently diverged lineages or geographically proximate populations. Weaker population subdivision for biparentally inherited nuclear markers than maternally inherited mtDNA may signal male-biased dispersal but can also be attributed to marker-specific evolutionary characteristics and sampling properties. We discriminated between these competing explanations with a population genetic study on olive sea snakes, Aipysurus laevis.

Landforms predict phylogenetic structure on one of the world's most ancient surfaces.

Background: The iconic Pilbara in northwestern Australia is an ancient geological and biophysical region that is an important zone of biodiversity, endemism and refugia. It also is overlain by some of the oldest erosion surfaces on Earth, but very little is known about the patterns of biotic diversity within the Pilbara or how they relate to the landscape. We combined phylogenetic and spatial-autocorrelation genetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA data on populations of the gekkotan lizard Lucasium stenodactylum within the Pilbara with geological, distributional and habitat data to test the hypothesis that ancient surface geology predicts current clade-habitat associations in saxicoline animals.

Promoting access to renal transplantation: the role of social support networks in completing pre-transplant evaluations.

Background: Completing pre-transplant evaluations may be a greater barrier to renal transplantation for blacks with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) than for whites.

Objective: To determine whether social support networks facilitate completing the pre-transplant evaluation and reduce racial disparities in this aspect of care.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We surveyed 742 black and white ESRD patients in four regional networks 9 months after they initiated dialysis in 1996 and 1997.

Molecular phylogeny and divergence dates for Australasian elapids and sea snakes (hydrophiinae): evidence from seven genes for rapid evolutionary radiations.

One of the most prolific radiations of venomous snakes, the Australo-Melanesian Hydrophiinae includes approximately 100 species of Australasian terrestrial elapids plus all approximately 60 species of viviparous sea snakes. Here, we estimate hydrophiine relationships based on a large data set comprising 5800 bp drawn from seven genes (mitochondrial: ND4, cytb, 12S, 16S; nuclear: rag1, cmos, myh). These data were analysed using parsimony, likelihood and Bayesian methods to better resolve hydrophiine phylogeny and provide a timescale for the terrestrial and marine radiations.

Metabolic effects of high-protein diets.

Protein is more satiating than carbohydrate or fat, and high-protein diets (25%-35% of energy) are commonly used for weight loss. High-protein diets usually replace carbohydrate with protein and may be low or high in saturated fat. Invariably, serum triglyceride is lower with the lower intake of carbohydrate, but the effects on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are strongly dependent on the amount of carbohydrate restriction and the intake of saturated fat, and in some cases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol may rise despite weight loss.

Ancient phylogeographic divergence in southeastern Australia among populations of the widespread common froglet, Crinia signifera.

Geographic patterns of species diversity in southeast Australia have been attributed to changes in Pleistocene climate, but related phylogeographic patterns and processes are relatively understudied. 12S and 16S mitochondrial DNA sequences in Crinia signifera populations were used to infer historical patterns and processes in southeast Australia. Phylogenetic analysis identified three geographically restricted ancient lineages and several geographically restricted sub-clades.

Effect of carbohydrate distribution on postprandial glucose peaks with the use of continuous glucose monitoring in type 2 diabetes.

Background: Large postprandial glucose peaks are associated with increased risk of diabetic complications and cardiovascular disease.

Objective: We investigated the effect of carbohydrate distribution on postprandial glucose peaks with continuous blood glucose monitoring (CGMS), when consuming a moderate carbohydrate diet in energy balance in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Design: Twenty-three subjects with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to each of four 3-d interventions in a crossover design with a 4-d washout period.

Effects of weight loss from a very-low-carbohydrate diet on endothelial function and markers of cardiovascular disease risk in subjects with abdominal obesity.

Background: The effects of a very-low-carbohydrate, high-saturated-fat weight-loss diet (LC) on brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and markers of endothelial function are unknown.

Objective: The effect of an LC on markers of endothelial function and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk was compared with that of an isocaloric high-carbohydrate, low-saturated-fat diet (HC).

Design: FMD and markers of endothelial function (n = 70) and CVD risk were measured before and after 8 wk of weight loss.

The salivary testosterone and cortisol response to three loading schemes.

This aim of this study was to examine the free hormone (in saliva) responses to squat workouts performed by recreationally weight-trained males, using either a power (8 sets of 6 reps, 45% 1 repetition maximum [1RM], 3-minute rest periods, ballistic movements), hypertrophy (10 sets of 10 reps, 75% 1RM, 2-minute rest periods, controlled movements), or maximal strength scheme (6 sets of 4 reps, 88% 1RM, 4-minute rest periods, explosive intent). To determine the relative importance of the different training variables, these schemes were equated by workout duration with the power and strength schemes also equated by load volume. Salivary testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) both increased following the hypertrophy scheme (P < 0.

To what extent does sexual dimorphism exist in competitive powerlifters?

We examined sexual dimorphism in the anthropometry of 68 Australasian and Pacific powerlifters (14 females, 54 males) who were competing in one of two national or international powerlifting competitions held in New Zealand. All powerlifters were assessed for 37 anthropometric dimensions by ISAK (International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry) Level II and III accredited anthropometrists. While the powerlifters were highly mesomorphic and possessed large girths and bone breadths, both in absolute terms and when expressed as Z(p)-scores compared through the Phantom (Ross & Wilson, 1974), these characteristics were often more pronounced in male than female lifters.

Long-term effects of a high-protein weight-loss diet.

Background: Evidence that high-protein diets are an effective strategy for the maintenance of long-term weight loss is limited.

Objective: The objective was to determine the efficacy of a higher protein intake on the maintenance of weight loss after 64 wk of follow-up.

Design: Seventy-nine healthy women with a mean (+/-SD) age of 49+/-9 y and a body mass index (in kg/m2) of 32.

Metabolic effects of weight loss on a very-low-carbohydrate diet compared with an isocaloric high-carbohydrate diet in abdominally obese subjects.

Objectives: This study was designed to compare the effects of an energy-reduced, isocaloric very-low-carbohydrate, high-fat (VLCHF) diet and a high-carbohydrate, low-fat (HCLF) diet on weight loss and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk outcomes.

Background: Despite the popularity of the VLCHF diet, no studies have compared the chronic effects of weight loss and metabolic change to a conventional HCLF diet under isocaloric conditions.

Methods: A total of 88 abdominally obese adults were randomly assigned to either an energy-restricted (approximately 6 to 7 MJ, 30% deficit), planned isocaloric VLCHF or HCLF diet for 24 weeks in an outpatient clinical trial.

The effect of milk protein on the bioavailability of cocoa polyphenols.

In order to determine whether milk proteins interact with cocoa polyphenols to modulate the uptake and concentration of polyphenols in plasma, 24 middle-aged men and women consumed 2 g of chocolate polyphenols, plus sugar and cocoa butter in 200 mL water, on 2 occasions. On 1 occasion, the chocolate mix contained 2.45 g of milk proteins.

Clinical trial: dextofisopam in the treatment of patients with diarrhoea-predominant or alternating irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Dextofisopam modulates stimulated activity in animal models of stress, altered bowel motility, and visceral hypersensitivity.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of dextofisopam in men and women with diarrhoea-predominant or alternating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (d-IBS or a-IBS).

Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients were randomly assigned to receive dextofisopam 200 mg b.

Biological movement variability during the sprint start: performance enhancement or hindrance?

In the current study, we quantified biological movement variability on the start and early acceleration phase of sprinting. Ten male athletes aged 17-23 years (100-m personal best: 10.87 +/- 0.

Wholegrain foods made from a novel high-amylose barley variety (Himalaya 292) improve indices of bowel health in human subjects.

Himalaya 292 (Hordeum vulgare var. Himalaya 292) is a novel hull-less barley variety lacking activity of a key enzyme of starch synthesis giving a grain containing less total starch, more amylose and higher total dietary fibre. Animal trials have shown that Himalaya 292 contains more resistant starch and has greater positive impact on biomarkers of large-bowel health than comparable wholegrain cereal products.

Weight loss maintenance in women 3 years after following a 12-week structured weight loss program.

Structured weight loss programs such as those using meal replacements are associated with both short-term and long-term weight loss, but the effectiveness of structured weight loss programs using whole foods has not been established. The primary aim of the present study was to retrospectively establish self-reported weight status in women, 3 years after participation in a 12-week food based structured weight loss program monitored by dietitians. The secondary aim was to determine which factors were associated with successful weight loss maintenance.

Fabrication and characterization of spatially defined, multiple component, chemically functionalized domains in enclosed silica channels using cross-linked phospholipid membranes.

The utilization of photopolymerized phospholipids for the preparation of spatially defined, chemically functionalized, micron-sized domains within enclosed fluidic channels was recently reported (Ross, E. E.; et al.

The central melanocortin system directly controls peripheral lipid metabolism.

Disruptions of the melanocortin signaling system have been linked to obesity. We investigated a possible role of the central nervous melanocortin system (CNS-Mcr) in the control of adiposity through effects on nutrient partitioning and cellular lipid metabolism independent of nutrient intake. We report that pharmacological inhibition of melanocortin receptors (Mcr) in rats and genetic disruption of Mc4r in mice directly and potently promoted lipid uptake, triglyceride synthesis, and fat accumulation in white adipose tissue (WAT), while increased CNS-Mcr signaling triggered lipid mobilization.

Moderate weight loss reduces renin and aldosterone but does not influence basal or stimulated pituitary-adrenal axis function.

Body fat mass and nutrition influence secretion of the adrenocortical hormones--aldosterone and cortisol--via several mechanisms. However, there are no data on adrenocortical function following widely prescribed mild diet-induced weight loss (10%) in obese subjects. In the present study, 25 healthy obese volunteers (BMI 32.