Transmission of second-hand smoke sensitivity and smoking attitude in a family

introduction and objective. The role of genetic factors in nicotine dependence is well understood, but no information is available on the inheritability of second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure sensitivity and their co-variance. materials and methods. 186 adult same-gender pairs of twin (146 monozygotic, 40 dizygotic; 44+/-17 years+/-SD) completed a questionnaire. results. The model showed a significant role of unshared environmental factors influencing the co-variance between smoking habit and SHS sensitivity (re=-0.191, 95% CI, -0.316 to -0.056, or the total phenotypic correlation of rph=-0.406, p<0.001) without evidence for genetic covariation. Age, gender and country-adjusted analysis indicated 51.5% heritability for smoking habit (95% confidence interval/CI/, 6.2 to 89.8%), 49.7% for SHS sensitivity (95%CI, 19.1-72.0%), 35.5% for general opinions on SHS exposure in restaurants/cafes (95%CI, 10.7-58.6%), and 16.9% in pubs/bars (95%CI, 0.0-49.0%). conclusions. The co-variance between SHS sensitivity and smoking habits is driven mainly by the unshared environment. SHS sensitivity is moderately inheritable. The considerable influence of environmental factors on general opinions on SHS exposure in designated indoor public venues emphasizes the importance of smoking bans and health behaviour interventions at the individual level in developing an anti-smoking attitude

A rescued dataset of sub-daily meteorological observations for Europe and the southern Mediterranean region, 1877–2012

Sub-daily meteorological observations are needed for input to and assessment of high-resolution reanalysis products to improve understanding of weather and climate variability. While there are millions of such weather observations that have been collected by various organisations, many are yet to be transcribed into a useable format. Under the auspices of the Uncertainties in Ensembles of Regional ReAnalyses (UERRA) project, we describe the compilation and development of a digital dataset of 8.8 million meteorological observations of essential climate variables (ECVs) rescued across the European and southern Mediterranean region. By presenting the entire chain of data preparation, from the identification of regions lacking in digitised sub-daily data and the location of original sources, through the digitisation of the observations to the quality control procedures applied, we provide a rescued dataset that is as traceable as possible for use by the research community. Data from 127 stations and of 15 climate variables in the northern African and European sectors have been prepared for the period 1877 to 2012. Quality control of the data using a two-step semi-automatic statistical approach identified 3.5 % of observations that required correction or removal, on par with previous data rescue efforts. In addition to providing a new sub-daily meteorological dataset for the research community, our experience in the development of this sub-daily dataset gives us an opportunity to share some suggestions for future data rescue projects. All versions of the dataset, from the raw digitised data to data that have been quality controlled and converted to standard units, are available on PANGAEA: https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.886511 (Ashcroft et al., 2018)

Laterality of deep white matter hyperintensities correlates with basilar artery bending and vertebral artery dominance

Aim To investigate whether vertebrobasilar geometry contributes to the presence, severity, and laterality of white matter hyperintensities (WMH). Methods We retrospectively reviewed 290 cerebral scans of patients who underwent time-of-flight and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between 2017 and 2018. WMH were counted, localized, and grouped according to laterality on the FLAIR sequence. A 3D mesh of the posterior circulation was reconstructed (with ITK SNAP software) and the morphology of the vertebrobasilar system analyzed with an in-house software written in Python. Results Patients were assigned into a group with WMH (n=204) and a group without WMH (n=86). The severity of WMH burden was mainly affected by age and hypertension, while the localization of the WMH (or laterality) was mainly affected by the vertebrobasilar system morphology. Basilar artery morphology only affected the parietooccipital region significantly if both posterior communicating arteries were hypoplastic or absent. The dominant vertebral artery and basilar artery curve had an opposite directional relationship. Conclusions An unequal vertebral artery flow is an important hemodynamic contributor to basilar bending. Increased basilar artery curvature and increased infratentorial WMH burden may signal inadequate blood flow and predict cerebrovascular events

Measurement of 30-Centimeter Ion Thruster Discharge Cathode Erosion

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76209/1/AIAA-22982-649.pd

Particle Simulation of Plume Flows from an Anode-Layer Hall Thruster

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76848/1/AIAA-28384-370.pd

Relationship between weather conditions and admissions for ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage

AIM: To assess impacts of different weather conditions on hospitalizations of patients with ischemic strokes and subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH) in South Florida. METHODS: Diagnostic data of patients with spontaneous SAH and strokes were recorded between June 2010 and July 2013. Daily synchronous forecast charts were collected from the National Weather Service and the whole data were matched prospectively. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) was calculated. RESULTS: Increased incidence rate of ischemic stroke was consistent with the daily lowest and highest air pressure (IRR 1.03, P=0.128 and IRR 0.98, P=0.380, respectively), highest air temperature (IRR 0.99, P=0.375), and presence of hurricanes or storms (IRR 0.65, P=0.054). Increased incidence of SAH cases was consistent with daily lowest and highest air pressure (IRR 0.87, P<0.001 and IRR 1.08, P=0.019, respectively) and highest air temperature (IRR 0.98, P<0.001). Presence of hurricanes and/or tropical storms did not influence the frequency of SAH. We found no relationship between the presence of fronts and the admissions for ischemic stroke or SAH. CONCLUSION: Higher number of ischemic stroke and SAH cases can be expected with the daily lowest and highest air pressure, highest air temperature. Presence of hurricanes or tropical storms increased the risk of ischemic stroke but not the SAH. These findings can help to develop preventive health plans for cerebrovascular diseases

Heritability of the dimensions, compliance and distensibility of the human internal jugular vein wall

The elasticity of the internal jugular vein (IJV) is a major determinant of cerebral venous drainage and right atrium venous return. However, the level of genetic determination of IJV dimensions, compliance and distensibility has not been studied yet. 170 adult Caucasian twins (43 monozygotic [MZ] and 42 dizygotic [DZ] pairs) were involved from the Italian twin registry. Anteroposterior and mediolateral diameters of the IJV were measured bilaterally by ultrasonography. Measurements were made both in the sitting and supine positions, with or without Valsalva maneuver. Univariate quantitative genetic modeling was performed. Genetic factors are responsible for 30–70% of the measured properties of IJV at higher venous pressure even after adjustment for age and gender. The highest level of inheritance was found in the supine position regarding compliance (62%) and venous diameter during Valsalva (69%). Environmental and measurement-related factors instead are more important in the sitting position, when the venous pressure is low and the venous lumen is almost collapsed. The range of capacity changes between the lowest and highest intraluminal venous pressure (full distension range) are mainly determined by genetic factors (58%). Our study has shown substantial heritability of IJV biomechanics at higher venous pressures even after adjustment for age and gender. These findings yield an important insight to what degree the geometric and elastic properties of the vascular wall are formed by genetic and by environmental factors in humans.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5862397

Post-COVID changes in lung function 6 months after veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a prospective observational clinical trial

BackgroundSevere coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may require veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO). While V-V ECMO is offered in severe lung injury to COVID-19, long-term respiratory follow-up in these patients is missing. Therefore, we aimed at providing comprehensive data on the long-term respiratory effects of COVID-19 requiring V-V ECMO support during the acute phase of infection.MethodsIn prospective observational cohort study design, patients with severe COVID-19 receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and V-V ECMO (COVID group, n = 9) and healthy matched controls (n = 9) were evaluated 6 months after hospital discharge. Respiratory system resistance at 5 and 19 Hz (R5, R19), and the area under the reactance curve (AX5) was evaluated using oscillometry characterizing total and central airway resistances, and tissue elasticity, respectively. R5 and R19 difference (R5–R19) reflecting small airway function was also calculated. Forced expired volume in seconds (FEV1), forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC), functional residual capacity (FRC), carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) and transfer coefficient (KCO) were measured.ResultsThe COVID group had a higher AX5 and R5–R19 than the healthy matched control group. However, there was no significant difference in terms of R5 or R19. The COVID group had a lower FEV1 and FVC on spirometry than the healthy matched control group. Further, the COVID group had a lower FRC on plethysmography than the healthy matched control group. Meanwhile, the COVID group had a lower DLCO than healthy matched control group. Nevertheless, its KCO was within the normal range.ConclusionSevere acute COVID-19 requiring V-V ECMO persistently impairs small airway function and reduces respiratory tissue elasticity, primarily attributed to lung restriction. These findings also suggest that even severe pulmonary pathologies of acute COVID-19 can manifest in a moderate but still persistent lung function impairment 6 months after hospital discharge.Trial registrationNCT05812196

Labour Relations and Modes of Employment

Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/266833Hervorming Sociale Regelgevin