A Resource system package for reservation systems

The Resource System Package is a software tool developed to aid in the design and use of reservation system databases. The package is designed to automate the creation of a reservation database for arbitrary objects and to facilitate ease of maintenance and updating of existing databases. Databases set up via the resource system are maintained through the Mistress Relational Database System, although no specific knowledge of Mistress is required of either the database designer or the users of the database. The package is menu-driven for ease of use. This package consists of two separate programs, a Resource System program and a Reservation System program. The Resource System program allows a database designer to create the reservation database. A designer is prompted for the characteristics of the objects which will be represented in the database, for descriptions of the objects available, and for information which will be used in the maintenance of the database; the program goes on to construct the actual Mistress database from the information supplied. The Reservation System program allows users to manipulate any of the available reservation databases which they have permission to modify. An individual user is presented with a set of options for manipulation of the database, which include the creation, modification, and deletion of reservations, as well as options to allow examination of the database. This paper discusses the prepartion and development of the Resource System Package. Also discussed are the history, implementation, project description and design, and conclusions drawn

Underground railway particulate matter and susceptibility to pneumococcal infection

Background: Concentrations of particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) on underground railways are higher than those near urban roads. Traffic-related PM10 increases pneumococcal infection via increasing the expression of platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR), a receptor co-opted by pneumococci to adhere to cells. To date, it is unknown whether underground railway PM10 increases pneumococcal infection. This study sought to determine the effect of London Underground (LU) PM10 on; i) pneumococcal adhesion to airway cells, and ii) susceptibility to pneumococcal disease. Methods: A549 cells and human primary airway epithelial cells were cultured with 20 µg/mL PM10 from the Bakerloo (B-PM10) and Jubilee (J-PM10) line platforms of Baker Street station. PAFR expression was assessed by flow cytometry, and pneumococcal adhesion by colony forming unit (CFU) counts. Traffic-related PM10 was collected next to a main road near the station's entrance. The PAFR blocker CV3988 and the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine were used to assess the role of PAFR-mediated pneumococcal adhesion and oxidative stress respectively. Pneumococcal infection of mice was done after exposure to 3×80 μg doses of intranasal LU-PM10. Findings: In A549 cells, human primary nasal cells, and human primary bronchial epithelial cells, B-PM10 and J-PM10 increased PAFR expression and pneumococcal adhesion. Stimulated adhesion was abrogated by CV3988 and N-acetyl cysteine. Traffic-related PM10 stimulated increased adhesion compared with B-PM10. B-PM10 and J-PM10 increased lung and blood CFU and mortality in mice. Treatment of B-PM10-exposed mice with CV3988 reduced blood CFU. Interpretation: LU-PM10 increases pneumococcal adhesion to airway cells and susceptibility to invasive disease in mice. Funding: The Medical College of Saint Bartholomew's Hospital Trust, and the UK Medical Research Council Programme Grant (MR/P011284/1)

Release and Establishment of Megamelus scutellaris (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) on Waterhyacinth in Florida

More than 73,000 Megamelus scutellaris (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) were released in Florida over a 2 to 3 yr period at 10 sites in an attempt to establish sustainable populations on waterhyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes Mart. Solms (Commelinales: Pontederiaceae). Insect populations persisted at most sites including those furthest north and consecutive overwintering was confirmed in as many as three times at some sites. Establishment appeared to be promoted at sites with some cover or shading compared to open areas. Insects readily dispersed over short distances which made detection and monitoring difficultFil: Tipping, Philip W.. Invasive Plant Research Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Sosa, Alejandro Joaquín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; ArgentinaFil: Pokorny, Eileen N.. Invasive Plant Research Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Foley, Jeremiah. Invasive Plant Research Laboratory; Estados UnidosFil: Schmitz, Don C.. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Estados UnidosFil: Lane, Jon S.. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Estados UnidosFil: Rodgers, Leroy. South Florida Water Management District; Estados UnidosFil: Mccloud, Lori. St. Johns River Water Management District; Estados UnidosFil: Livingston-Way, Pam. St. Johns River Water Management District; Estados UnidosFil: Cole, Matthew S.. St. Johns River Water Management District; Estados UnidosFil: Nichols, Gary. St. Johns River Water Management District; Estados Unido

The effect of a weight gain prevention intervention on moderate-vigorous physical activity among black women: the Shape Program

Background: Rates of physical inactivity are high among Black women living in the United States with overweight or obesity, especially those living in the rural South. This study was conducted to determine if an efficacious weight gain prevention intervention increased moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Methods: The Shape Program, a weight gain prevention intervention implemented in community health centers in rural North Carolina, was designed for socioeconomically disadvantaged Black women with overweight or obesity. MVPA was measured using accelerometers, and summarized into 1- and 10-min bouts. We employed analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) to assess the relationship between changes in MVPA over 12 months, calculated as a change score, and intervention assignment (intervention versus usual care). Results: Participants completing both baseline and 12-month accelerometer assessments (n = 121) had a mean age of 36.1 (SD = 5.43) years and a mean body mass index of 30.24 kg/m2 (SD = 2.60). At baseline, 38% met the physical activity recommendation (150 min of MVPA/week) when assessed using 10-min bouts, and 76% met the recommendation when assessed using 1-min bouts. There were no significant differences in change in MVPA participation among participants randomized to the intervention from baseline to 12-months using 1-min bouts (adjusted intervention mean [95% CI]: 20.50 [−109.09 to 150.10] vs. adjusted usual care mean [95% CI]: -80.04 [−209.21 to 49.13], P = .29), or 10-min bouts (adjusted intervention mean [95% CI]: 7.39 [−83.57 to 98.35] vs. adjusted usual care mean [95% CI]: -17.26 [−107.93 to 73.40], P = .70). Conclusions: Although prior research determined that the Shape intervention promoted weight gain prevention, MVPA did not increase significantly among intervention participants from baseline to 12 months. The classification of bouts had a marked effect on the prevalence estimates of those meeting physical activity recommendations. More research is needed to understand how to promote increased MVPA in weight gain prevention interventions

Reproduction and nutritional stress are risk factors for Hendra virus infection in little red flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus)

Hendra virus (HeV) is a lethal paramyxovirus which emerged in humans in 1994. Poor understanding of HeV dynamics in Pteropus spp. (flying fox or fruit bat) reservoir hosts has limited our ability to determine factors driving its emergence. We initiated a longitudinal field study of HeV in little red flying foxes (LRFF; Pteropus scapulatus) and examined individual and population risk factors for infection, to determine probable modes of intraspecific transmission. We also investigated whether seasonal changes in host behaviour, physiology and demography affect host-pathogen dynamics. Data showed that pregnant and lactating females had significantly higher risk of infection, which may explain previously observed temporal associations between HeV outbreaks and flying fox birthing periods. Age-specific seroprevalence curves generated from field data imply that HeV is transmitted horizontally via faeces, urine or saliva. Rapidly declining seroprevalence between two field seasons suggests that immunity wanes faster in LRFF than in other flying fox species, and highlights the potentially critical role of this species in interspecific viral persistence. The highest seroprevalence was observed when animals showed evidence of nutritional stress, suggesting that environmental processes that alter flying fox food sources, such as habitat loss and climate change, may increase HeV infection and transmission. These insights into the ecology of HeV in flying fox populations suggest causal links between anthropogenic environmental change and HeV emergence

Underground railway particulate matter and susceptibility to pneumococcal infection

Background Concentrations of particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) on underground railways are higher than those near urban roads. Traffic-related PM10 increases pneumococcal infection via increasing the expression of platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR), a receptor co-opted by pneumococci to adhere to cells. To date, it is unknown whether underground railway PM10 increases pneumococcal infection. This study sought to determine the effect of London Underground (LU) PM10 on; i) pneumococcal adhesion to airway cells, and ii) susceptibility to pneumococcal disease. Methods A549 cells and human primary airway epithelial cells were cultured with 20 µg/mL PM10 from the Bakerloo (B-PM10) and Jubilee (J-PM10) line platforms of Baker Street station. PAFR expression was assessed by flow cytometry, and pneumococcal adhesion by colony forming unit (CFU) counts. Traffic-related PM10 was collected next to a main road near the station's entrance. The PAFR blocker CV3988 and the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine were used to assess the role of PAFR-mediated pneumococcal adhesion and oxidative stress respectively. Pneumococcal infection of mice was done after exposure to 3×80 μg doses of intranasal LU-PM10. Findings In A549 cells, human primary nasal cells, and human primary bronchial epithelial cells, B-PM10 and J-PM10 increased PAFR expression and pneumococcal adhesion. Stimulated adhesion was abrogated by CV3988 and N-acetyl cysteine. Traffic-related PM10 stimulated increased adhesion compared with B-PM10. B-PM10 and J-PM10 increased lung and blood CFU and mortality in mice. Treatment of B-PM10-exposed mice with CV3988 reduced blood CFU. Interpretation LU-PM10 increases pneumococcal adhesion to airway cells and susceptibility to invasive disease in mice

Variations of remodeling in response to left main atherosclerosis assessed with intravascular ultrasound in vivo.

Histopathologic studies have demonstrated that vessels enlarge to compensate for an increase in plaque burden; this has been confirmed in vivo using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). The initial studies suggested a biphasic course of lesion formation with (1) preservation of lumen dimensions up to a plaque burden of approximately 40%, and (2) luminal narrowing as plaque burden further increases. In this study, we used IVUS and angiography to assess the extent of left main (LM) atherosclerosis in 107 patients undergoing catheter-based procedures of the left anterior descending or left circumflex coronary arteries. Using IVUS, atherosclerotic plaques were found in all LM arteries, but only 26 (24%) had varying degrees of luminal narrowing on the angiogram. Nevertheless, there was an inverse relation (r = −0.62, p 40% (or >30%), but persisted at plaque burden values of 20% to 40%. In addition, LM arteries with a plaque burden <40% had a similar total vessel area as did LM arteries with a plaque burden ≥40% (22.9 ± 6.1 vs 21.8 ± 4.8 mm2, p = 0.30). These data suggest that lumen dimensions may not be preserved even if plaque occupies no more than 20% to 40% of the total vessel area. Thus, there is more variation in remodeling response during earlier stages of plaque accumulation within the LM artery than is commonly suggested