Dietary Predictors and Plasma Concentrations of Perfluorinated Compounds in a Coastal Population from Northern Norway

Dietary intake, age, gender, and body mass index were investigated as possible predictors of perfluorinated compounds in a study population from northern Norway (44 women and 16 men). In addition to donating a blood sample, the participants answered a detailed questionnaire about diet and lifestyle. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) (29 ng/mL), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) (3.9 ng/mL), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) (0.5 ng/mL), perfluorononanoate (PFNA) (0.8 ng/mL), and perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS) (1.1 ng/mL) were detected in more than 95% of all samples. Of the dietary items investigated, fruit and vegetables significantly reduced the concentrations of PFOS and PFHpS, whereas fatty fish to a smaller extent significantly increased the levels of the same compounds. Men had significantly higher concentrations of PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFHpS than women. There were significant differences in PFOS isomer pattern between genders, with women having the largest proportion of linear PFOS. PFOS, PFHxS, and PFHpS concentrations also increased with age

State-Interest Analysis in Fourteenth Amendment Privacy Law: An Essay on the Constitutionalization of Social Issues

One of Sweden’s visions set to be real before 2050 is to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources; this could be done partly by using biomass as a substitute. One kind of common energy crop is short-rotation willow coppice (SRWC) which is a fast growing energy crop cultivated by farmers in the agricultural landscape. In this report a SRWC cultivation in Västergörland, Sweden was studied and modelled with CoupModel to evaluate the sustainability in the cultivation, especially focusing on the green house gas balance in the system and eutrophication enhancing substances. One reference case and two different scenarios where modelled and evaluated (with enhanced fertilizing and a different climate) and a brief economic calculation was made for the farmer and the thermal station that buys the SWRC to judge the economic sustainability in the system. The study showed that there are several advantages with SRWC cultivation. In the studied case it was an economically sustainable substitute to fossil fuels, and an economically profitable crop for the farmer. It contributes to a renewable fuel mix and therefore to a reduced climate impact, and it appears to contribute less to eutrophication than traditional agricultural crops. In an area where the SRWC does not restrain food production it might be a sustainable energy source.

Genome maintenance functions of a putative Trypanosoma brucei translesion DNA polymerase include telomere association and a role in antigenic variation

Maintenance of genome integrity is critical to guarantee transfer of an intact genome from parent to off-spring during cell division. DNA polymerases (Pols) provide roles in both replication of the genome and the repair of a wide range of lesions. Amongst replicative DNA Pols, translesion DNA Pols play a particular role: replication to bypass DNA damage. All cells express a range of translesion Pols, but little work has examined their function in parasites, including whether the enzymes might contribute to host-parasite interactions. Here, we describe a dual function of one putative translesion Pol in African trypanosomes, which we now name TbPolIE. Previously, we demonstrated that TbPolIE is associated with telomeric sequences and here we show that RNAi-mediated depletion of TbPolIE transcripts results in slowed growth, altered DNA content, changes in cell morphology, and increased sensitivity to DNA damaging agents. We also show that TbPolIE displays pronounced localization at the nuclear periphery, and that its depletion leads to chromosome segregation defects and increased levels of endogenous DNA damage. Finally, we demonstrate that TbPolIE depletion leads to deregulation of telomeric variant surface glycoprotein genes, linking the function of this putative translesion DNA polymerase to host immune evasion by antigenic variation

Análise das advertências geradas pelas chefias de enfermagem

This survey aims to analyze the reasons for which were generated by punitive written warnings issued by the HCPA of Nursing Services in the period 2001 to 2006 involving different managers. This is an exploratory and descriptive study with qualitative approach. The data, once organized, were categorized into 4 distinct groups, those being: errors of medicines, disciplinary problems, ethical and technical failures. Among the problems identified 263 disciplinary incidents were the most (46%), the medication errors accounted for 28%, ethical issues and 11% technical failure 11%. There weren’t statistically significant changes or trends identified over the years or between different departments of nursing. It is suggested that should be studied the interference through the use of appropriate tools to manage the performance of managers.Este estudio pretende analizar las razones por las que se generaron documentos de advertencias como punición emitidas por el HCPA de los servicios de enfermería en el período comprendido entre 2001 y 2006 la participación de diferentes gestores. Trata-se de un estudio exploratorio y descriptivo con enfoque cualitativo. Los datos, una vez organizados, se clasificaron en 4 grupos distintos, los que se están: los errores de medicamentos, problemas disciplinarios, éticos y fallos técnicos. Entre los problemas identificados 263 disciplinario incidentes son los más (46%), los errores de medicación representaron el 28%, las cuestiones éticas y el 11% fallo técnico 11%. No hubo cambios estadísticamente significativas ó tendencias identificadas a lo largo de los años ó entre los distintos departamentos de enfermería. Se sugiere que se considere injerencia de la utilización de un instrumentos adecuados para gestionar el desempeño de los directivos.Esta pesquisa é um estudo original que analisou os motivos pelos quais foram geradas advertências por escrito emanadas pelos Serviços de Enfermagem no HCPA no período de 2001 a 2006 envolvendo diferentes gestores. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório e descritivo com abordagem qualitativa. Os dados, após organizados, foram categorizados em 4 grupos distintos, sendo esses: erros de medicamentos, problemas disciplinares, éticos e falhas técnicas. Dentre os 263 identificados os problemas disciplinares foram os mais incidentes (46%), erros de medicação representaram 28%, questões éticas 11% e falhas técnicas 11%. Não houve alteração ou tendências estatisticamente significativas identificadas com o passar dos anos ou entre os diferentes serviços de enfermagem. Sugere-se que sejam estudadas interferências através da utilização de ferramentas adequadas para a gestão de desempenho dos gestores

System size and centrality dependence of the balance function in A+A collisions at sqrt[sNN]=17.2 GeV

Electric charge correlations were studied for p+p, C+C, Si+Si, and centrality selected Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt[sNN]=17.2 GeV with the NA49 large acceptance detector at the CERN SPS. In particular, long-range pseudorapidity correlations of oppositely charged particles were measured using the balance function method. The width of the balance function decreases with increasing system size and centrality of the reactions. This decrease could be related to an increasing delay of hadronization in central Pb+Pb collisions

System size and centrality dependence of the balance function in A + A collisions at sqrt s NN = 17.2 GeV

Electric charge correlations were studied for p+p, C+C, Si+Si and centrality selected Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt s_NN = 17.2$ GeV with the NA49 large acceptance detector at the CERN-SPS. In particular, long range pseudo-rapidity correlations of oppositely charged particles were measured using the Balance Function method. The width of the Balance Function decreases with increasing system size and centrality of the reactions. This decrease could be related to an increasing delay of hadronization in central Pb+Pb collisions

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies from the CHARGE consortium identifies common variants associated with carotid intima media thickness and plaque

Carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) and plaque determined by ultrasonography are established measures of subclinical atherosclerosis that each predicts future cardiovascular disease events. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association data in 31,211 participants of European ancestry from nine large studies in the setting of the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium. We then sought additional evidence to support our findings among 11,273 individuals using data from seven additional studies. In the combined meta-analysis, we identified three genomic regions associated with common carotid intima media thickness and two different regions associated with the presence of carotid plaque (P < 5 × 10 -8). The associated SNPs mapped in or near genes related to cellular signaling, lipid metabolism and blood pressure homeostasis, and two of the regions were associated with coronary artery disease (P < 0.006) in the Coronary Artery Disease Genome-Wide Replication and Meta-Analysis (CARDIoGRAM) consortium. Our findings may provide new insight into pathways leading to subclinical atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular events