Peripheral blood eosinophils: a surrogate marker for airway eosinophilia in stable COPD.

INTRODUCTION: Sputum eosinophilia occurs in approximately one-third of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and can predict exacerbation risk and response to corticosteroid treatments. Sputum induction, however, requires expertise, may not always be successful, and does not provide point-of-care results. Easily applicable diagnostic markers that can predict sputum eosinophilia in stable COPD patients have the potential to progress COPD management. This study investigated the correlation and predictive relationship between peripheral blood and sputum eosinophils. It also examined the repeatability of blood eosinophil counts. METHODS: Stable COPD patients (n=141) were classified as eosinophilic or noneosinophilic based on their sputum cell counts (≥3%), and a cross-sectional analysis was conducted comparing their demographics, clinical characteristics, and blood cell counts. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to assess the predictive ability of blood eosinophils for sputum eosinophilia. Intraclass correlation coefficient was used to examine the repeatability of blood eosinophil counts. RESULTS: Blood eosinophil counts were significantly higher in patients with sputum eosinophilia (n=45) compared to those without (0.3×10(9)/L vs 0.15×10(9)/L; P<0.0001). Blood eosinophils correlated with both the percentage (ρ=0.535; P<0.0001) and number of sputum eosinophils (ρ=0.473; P<0.0001). Absolute blood eosinophil count was predictive of sputum eosinophilia (area under the curve =0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.67-0.84; P<0.0001). At a threshold of ≥0.3×10(9)/L (specificity =76%, sensitivity =60%, and positive likelihood ratio =2.5), peripheral blood eosinophil counts enabled identification of the presence or absence of sputum eosinophilia in 71% of the cases. A threshold of ≥0.4×10(9)/L had similar classifying ability but better specificity (91.7%) and higher positive likelihood ratio (3.7). In contrast, ≥0.2×10(9)/L offered a better sensitivity (91.1%) for ruling out sputum eosinophilia. There was a good agreement between two measurements of blood eosinophil count over a median of 28 days (intraclass correlation coefficient =0.8; 95% CI =0.66-0.88; P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Peripheral blood eosinophil counts can help identify the presence or absence of sputum eosinophilia in stable COPD patients with a reasonable degree of accuracy

The Eruption from a Sigmoidal Solar Active Region on 2005 May 13

This paper presents a multiwavelength study of the M8.0 flare and its associated fast halo CME that originated from a bipolar active region NOAA 10759 on 2005 May 13. The source active region has a conspicuous sigmoid structure at TRACE 171 A channel as well as in the SXI soft X-ray images, and we mainly concern ourselves with the detailed process of the sigmoid eruption as evidenced by the multiwavelength data ranging from Halpha, WL, EUV/UV, radio, and hard X-rays (HXRs). The most important finding is that the flare brightening starts in the core of the active region earlier than that of the rising motion of the flux rope. This timing clearly addresses one of the main issues in the magnetic eruption onset of sigmoid, namely, whether the eruption is initiated by an internal tether-cutting to allow the flux rope to rise upward or a flux rope rises due to a loss of equilibrium to later induce tether cutting below it. Our high time cadence SXI and Halpha data shows that the first scenario is relevant to this eruption. As other major findings, we have the RHESSI HXR images showing a change of the HXR source from a confined footpoint structure to an elongated ribbon-like structure after the flare maximum, which we relate to the sigmoid-to-arcade evolution. Radio dynamic spectrum shows a type II precursor that occurred at the time of expansion of the sigmoid and a drifting pulsating structure in the flare rising phase in HXR. Finally type II and III bursts are seen at the time of maximum HXR emission, simultaneous with the maximum reconnection rate derived from the flare ribbon motion in UV. We interpret these various observed properties with the runaway tether-cutting model proposed by Moore et al. in 2001.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, The Astrophysical Journal, accepted July, 200

Structural studies of Schiff-base [2 + 2] macrocycles derived from 2,2′-oxydianiline and the ROP capability of their organoaluminium complexes

The molecular structures of a number of solvates of the [2 + 2] Schiff-base macrocycles {[2-(OH)-5-(R)-C6H2-1,3-(CH)2][O(2-C6H4N)2]}2 (R = Me L1H2, tBu L2H2, Cl L3H2), formed by reacting 2,6-dicarboxy-4-R-phenol with 2,2′-oxydianiline (2-aminophenylether), (2-NH2C6H4)2O, have been determined. Reaction of LnH2 with two equivalents of AlR′3 (R′ = Me, Et) afforded dinuclear alkylaluminium complexes [(AlR′2)2L1–3] (R = R′ = Me (1), R = tBu, R′ = Me (2), R = Cl, R′ = Me (3), R = Me, R′ = Et (4), R = tBu, R′ = Et (5), R = Cl, R′ = Et (6)). For comparative studies, reactions of two equivalents of AlR′3 (R′ = Me, Et) with the macrocycle derived from 2,2′-ethylenedianiline and 2,6-dicarboxy-R-phenols (R = Me L4H2, tBu L5H2) were conducted; the complexes [(AlMe)(AlMe2)L5]·2¼MeCN (7·2¼MeCN) and [(AlEt2)2L4] (8) were isolated. Use of limited AlEt3 with L3H2 or L5H2 afforded mononuclear bis(macrocyclic) complexes [Al(L3)(L3H)]·4toluene (9·4toluene) and [Al(L5)(L5H)]·5MeCN (10·5MeCN), respectively. Use of four equivalents of AlR′3 led to transfer of alkyl groups and isolation of the complexes [(AlR′2)4L1′–3′] (R = L2′, R′ = Me (11); L3′, R′ = Me (12); L1′, R′ = Et (13); L2′, R′ = Et (14); L3′, R′ = Et (15)), where L1′–3′ is the macrocycle resulting from double alkyl transfer to imine, namely {[2-(O)-5-(R)C6H2-1-(CH)-3-C(R′)H][(O)(2-(N)-2′-C6H4N)2]}2. Molecular structures of complexes 7·2¼MeCN, 8, 9·4toluene, 10·5MeCN and 11·1¾toluene·1¼hexane are reported. These complexes act as catalysts for the ring opening polymerisation (ROP) of ε-caprolactone and rac-lactide; high conversions were achieved over 30 min at 80 °C for ε-caprolactone, and 110 °C over 12 h for rac-lactide

Wide range of droplet jetting angles by thin-film based surface acoustic waves

Nozzleless jetting of droplets with different jetting angles is a crucial requirement for 2D and 3D printing/bioprinting applications, and Rayleigh mode surface acoustic waves (SAWs) could be a potential technique for achieving this purpose. Currently, it is critical to vary the jetting angles of liquid droplets induced by SAWs and control the liquid jet directions. Generally, the direction of the liquid jet induced by SAWs generated from a bulk piezoelectric substrate such as LiNbO3 is along the theoretical Rayleigh angle of ~22o. In this study, we designed and manufactured thin-film SAW devices by depositing ZnO films on different substrates (including silicon and aluminium) to realize a wide range of jetting angles from ~16o to 55o using propagating waves generated from one interdigital transducer (IDT). We then systematically investigated different factors affecting the jetting angles, including liquid properties, applied SAW power and SAW device resonant frequency. Finally, we proposed various methods using thin-film SAW devices together with different transducer designs for realizing a wide range of jetting angles within the 3D domain

Education and transfer of water competencies: An ecological dynamics approach

© The Author(s) 2020. To cope in various aquatic environments (i.e. swimming pools, lakes, rivers, oceans), learners require a wide repertoire of self-regulatory behaviours such as awareness of obstacles and water properties, floating and moving from point to point with different strokes, decision making, emotional control and breathing efficiently. By experiencing different learning situations in stable indoor pool environments, it is assumed that children strengthen aquatic competencies that should be transferable to functioning in open water environments, where prevalence of drowning is high. However, this fundamental assumption may be misleading. Here, we propose the application of a clear, related methodology and theoretical framework that could be useful to help physical education curriculum specialists (re)shape and (re)design appropriate aquatic learning situations to facilitate better transfer of learning. We discuss the need for more representativeness in a learning environment, proposing how the many different task and environmental constraints on aquatic actions may bound the emergence of functional, self-regulatory behaviours in learners. Ideas in ecological dynamics suggest that physical educators should design learning environments that offer a rich landscape of opportunities for action for learners. As illustration, three practice interventions are described for developing functional and transferrable skills in indoor aquatic environments. It is important that aquatic educators focus not just upon ‘learning to swim’, but particularly on relevant transferable skills and self-regulatory behaviours deemed necessary for functioning in dynamic, outdoor aquatic environments

Education and transfer of water competencies: An ecological dynamics approach

© The Author(s) 2020. To cope in various aquatic environments (i.e. swimming pools, lakes, rivers, oceans), learners require a wide repertoire of self-regulatory behaviours such as awareness of obstacles and water properties, floating and moving from point to point with different strokes, decision making, emotional control and breathing efficiently. By experiencing different learning situations in stable indoor pool environments, it is assumed that children strengthen aquatic competencies that should be transferable to functioning in open water environments, where prevalence of drowning is high. However, this fundamental assumption may be misleading. Here, we propose the application of a clear, related methodology and theoretical framework that could be useful to help physical education curriculum specialists (re)shape and (re)design appropriate aquatic learning situations to facilitate better transfer of learning. We discuss the need for more representativeness in a learning environment, proposing how the many different task and environmental constraints on aquatic actions may bound the emergence of functional, self-regulatory behaviours in learners. Ideas in ecological dynamics suggest that physical educators should design learning environments that offer a rich landscape of opportunities for action for learners. As illustration, three practice interventions are described for developing functional and transferrable skills in indoor aquatic environments. It is important that aquatic educators focus not just upon ‘learning to swim’, but particularly on relevant transferable skills and self-regulatory behaviours deemed necessary for functioning in dynamic, outdoor aquatic environments

Acoustic signals in the sand fly Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) intermedia (Diptera: Psychodidae)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Acoustic signals are part of the courtship of many insects and they often act as species-specific signals that are important in the reproductive isolation of closely related species. Here we report the courtship songs of the sand fly <it>Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) intermedia</it>, one of the main vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Recordings were performed using insects from three localities from Eastern Brazil: Posse and Jacarepaguá in Rio de Janeiro State and Corte de Pedra in Bahia State. The three areas have remnants of the Brazilian Atlantic forest, they are endemic for cutaneous leishmaniasis and <it>L. intermedia </it>is the predominant sand fly species. We observed that during courtship <it>L. intermedia </it>males from all populations produced pulse songs consisting of short trains. No significant differences in song parameters were observed between the males of the three localities.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>L. intermedia </it>males produce acoustic signals as reported for some other sand flies such as the sibling species of the <it>Lutzomyia longipalpis </it>complex. The lack of differences between the males from the three localities is consistent with previous molecular studies of the <it>period </it>gene carried out in the same populations, reinforcing the idea that <it>L. intermedia </it>is not a species complex in the studied areas and that the three populations are likely to have similar vectorial capacities.</p

Social Transmission and the Spread of Modern Contraception in Rural Ethiopia

Socio-economic development has proven to be insufficient to explain the time and pace of the human demographic transition. Shifts to low fertility norms have thus been thought to result from social diffusion, yet to date, micro-level studies are limited and are often unable to disentangle the effect of social transmission from that of extrinsic factors. We used data which included the first ever use of modern contraception among a population of over 900 women in four villages in rural Ethiopia, where contraceptive prevalence is still low (<20%). We investigated whether the time of adoption of modern contraception is predicted by (i) the proportion of ever-users/non ever-users within both women and their husbands' friendships networks and (ii) the geographic distance to contraceptive ever-users. Using a model comparison approach, we found that individual socio-demographic characteristics (e.g. parity, education) and a religious norm are the most likely explanatory factors of temporal and spatial patterns of contraceptive uptake, while the role of person-to-person contact through either friendship or spatial networks remains marginal. Our study has broad implications for understanding the processes that initiate transitions to low fertility and the uptake of birth control technologies in the developing world