798 research outputs found
Do neutrophils play a role in the bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome post-lung transplant?
published_or_final_versio
In-vivo strain measurement for surgically repaired Achilles tendon under isometric contraction using real-time ultrasound imaging
2010-2011 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe
Coccidioidomycosis Incidence in Arizona Predicted by Seasonal Precipitation
The environmental mechanisms that determine the inter-annual and seasonal variability in incidence of coccidioidomycosis are unclear. In this study, we use Arizona coccidioidomycosis case data for 1995â2006 to generate a timeseries of monthly estimates of exposure rates in Maricopa County, AZ and Pima County, AZ. We reveal a seasonal autocorrelation structure for exposure rates in both Maricopa County and Pima County which indicates that exposure rates are strongly related from the fall to the spring. An abrupt end to this autocorrelation relationship occurs near the the onset of the summer precipitation season and increasing exposure rates related to the subsequent season. The identification of the autocorrelation structure enabled us to construct a âprimaryâ exposure season that spans August-March and a âsecondaryâ season that spans AprilâJune which are then used in subsequent analyses. We show that OctoberâDecember precipitation is positively associated with rates of exposure for the primary exposure season in both Maricopa County (Râ=â0.72, pâ=â0.012) and Pima County (Râ=â0.69, pâ=â0.019). In addition, exposure rates during the primary exposure seasons are negatively associated with concurrent precipitation in Maricopa (Râ=ââ0.79, pâ=â0.004) and Pima (Râ=ââ0.64, pâ=â0.019), possibly due to reduced spore dispersion. These associations enabled the generation of models to estimate exposure rates for the primary exposure season. The models explain 69% (pâ=â0.009) and 54% (pâ=â0.045) of the variance in the study period for Maricopa and Pima counties, respectively. We did not find any significant predictors for exposure rates during the secondary season. This study builds on previous studies examining the causes of temporal fluctuations in coccidioidomycosis, and corroborates the âgrow and blowâ hypothesis
Modification by Influenza on Health Effects of Air Pollution in Hong Kong
Background: Both influenza viruses and air pollutants have been well documented as major hazards to human health, but few epidemiologic studies have assessed effect modification of influenza on health effects of ambient air pollutants. Objectives: We aimed to assess modifying effects of influenza on health effects of ambient air pollutants. Methods: We applied Poisson regression to daily numbers of hospitalizations and mortality to develop core models after adjustment for potential time-varying confounding variables. We assessed modification of influenza by adding variables for concentrations of single ambient air pollutants and proportions of influenza-positive specimens (influenza intensity) and their cross-product terms. Results: We found significant effect modification of influenza (p < 0.05) for effects of ozone. When influenza intensity is assumed to increase from 0% to 10%, the excess risks per 10-ÎŒg/m 3 increase in concentration of O 3 increased 0.24% and 0.40% for hospitalization of respiratory disease in the all-ages group and â„ 65 year age group, respectively; 0.46% for hospitalization of acute respiratory disease in the all-ages group; and 0.40% for hospitalization of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the â„ 65 group. The estimated increases in the excess risks for mortality of respiratory disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the all-ages group were 0.59% and 1.05%, respectively. We found no significant modification of influenza on effects of other pollutants in most disease outcomes under study. Conclusions: Influenza activity could be an effect modifier for the health effects of air pollutants particularly for O 3 and should be considered in the studies for short-term effects of air pollutants on health.published_or_final_versio
Liquid-gas phase transition in nuclear multifragmentation
The equation of state of nuclear matter suggests that at suitable beam
energies the disassembling hot system formed in heavy ion collisions will pass
through a liquid-gas coexistence region. Searching for the signatures of the
phase transition has been a very important focal point of experimental
endeavours in heavy ion collisions, in the last fifteen years. Simultaneously
theoretical models have been developed to provide information about the
equation of state and reaction mechanisms consistent with the experimental
observables. This article is a review of this endeavour.Comment: 63 pages, 27 figures, submitted to Adv. Nucl. Phys. Some typos
corrected, minor text change
Recommendations for a core outcome set for measuring standing balance in adult populations: a consensus-based approach
Standing balance is imperative for mobility and avoiding falls. Use of an excessive number of standing balance measures has limited the synthesis of balance intervention data and hampered consistent clinical practice.To develop recommendations for a core outcome set (COS) of standing balance measures for research and practice among adults.A combination of scoping reviews, literature appraisal, anonymous voting and face-to-face meetings with fourteen invited experts from a range of disciplines with international recognition in balance measurement and falls prevention. Consensus was sought over three rounds using pre-established criteria.The scoping review identified 56 existing standing balance measures validated in adult populations with evidence of use in the past five years, and these were considered for inclusion in the COS.Fifteen measures were excluded after the first round of scoring and a further 36 after round two. Five measures were considered in round three. Two measures reached consensus for recommendation, and the expert panel recommended that at a minimum, either the Berg Balance Scale or Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test be used when measuring standing balance in adult populations.Inclusion of two measures in the COS may increase the feasibility of potential uptake, but poses challenges for data synthesis. Adoption of the standing balance COS does not constitute a comprehensive balance assessment for any population, and users should include additional validated measures as appropriate.The absence of a gold standard for measuring standing balance has contributed to the proliferation of outcome measures. These recommendations represent an important first step towards greater standardization in the assessment and measurement of this critical skill and will inform clinical research and practice internationally
Ethnic differences in urinary calcium and phosphate excretion between Gambian and British older adults
Summary: Ethnic differences in renal calcium and phosphate excretion exist, which may depend on differences in their dietary intakes and regulatory factors. We report highly significant differences in urinary calcium and phosphate excretion between white British and Gambian adults after statistical adjustment for mineral intakes, indicating an independent effect of ethnicity. Introduction: Populations vary in their risk of age-related osteoporosis. There are racial or ethnic differences in the metabolism of the bone-forming minerals calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P), with a lower renal Ca and P excretion in African-Americans compared to white counterparts, even at similar intakes and rates of absorption. Also, Africans in The Gambia have a lower Ca excretion compared to white British subjects, groups known to differ in their dietary Ca intake. Here, we report on differences in urinary Ca and P excretion between Gambian and white British adults while allowing for known predictors, including dietary intakes. Methods: Participants were healthy white British (nâ=â60) and Gambian (nâ=â61) men and women aged 60â75 years. Fasting blood and 2-h urine samples were collected. Markers of Ca and P metabolism were analysed. Dietary intake was assessed with country-specific methods. Results: White British older adults had higher creatinine-corrected urinary Ca and P excretion (uCa/uCr, uP/uCr) and lower tubular maximum of Ca and P compared to Gambian counterparts. The predictors of urinary Ca and P differed between groups. Multiple regression analysis showed that dietary Ca and Ca/P were predictors of uCa/uCr and uP/uCr, respectively. Ethnicity remained a significant predictor of uCa/uCr and uP/uCr after adjustment for diet and other factors. Conclusions: Gambian older adults have higher renal Ca conservation than British counterparts. Dietary mineral intakes were predictors of the differences in urinary Ca and P excretion, but ethnicity remained a highly significant predictor after statistical adjustment. This suggests that ethnicity has an independent effect on renal Ca and P handling
Prognostic factors in solitary plasmacytoma of the bone: a multicenter Rare Cancer Network study
BACKGROUND: Solitary plasmacytoma (SP) of the bone is a rare plasma-cell neoplasm. There are no conclusive data in the literature on the optimal radiation therapy (RT) dose in SP. Therefore, in this large retrospective study, we wanted to assess the outcome, prognostic factors, and the optimal RT dose in patients with SP. METHODS: Data from 206 patients with bone SP without evidence of multiple myeloma (MM) were collected. Histopathological diagnosis was obtained for all patients. The majority (n = 169) of the patients received RT alone; 32 chemotherapy and RT, and 5 surgery. Median follow-up was 54 months (7â245). RESULTS: Five-year overall survival, disease-free survival (DFS), and local control was 70%, 46%, and 88%; respectively. Median time to MM development was 21 months (2â135) with a 5-year probability of 51%. In multivariate analyses, favorable factors were younger age and tumor size < 5 cm for survival; younger age for DFS; anatomic localization (vertebra vs. other) for local control. Older age was the only predictor for MM. There was no dose-response relationship for doses 30 Gy or higher, even for larger tumors. CONCLUSION: Younger patients, especially those with vertebral localization have the best outcome when treated with moderate-dose RT. Progression to MM remains the main problem. Further investigation should focus on adjuvant chemotherapy and/or novel therapeutic agents
Quantum Measurement Theory in Gravitational-Wave Detectors
The fast progress in improving the sensitivity of the gravitational-wave (GW)
detectors, we all have witnessed in the recent years, has propelled the
scientific community to the point, when quantum behaviour of such immense
measurement devices as kilometer-long interferometers starts to matter. The
time, when their sensitivity will be mainly limited by the quantum noise of
light is round the corner, and finding the ways to reduce it will become a
necessity. Therefore, the primary goal we pursued in this review was to
familiarize a broad spectrum of readers with the theory of quantum measurements
in the very form it finds application in the area of gravitational-wave
detection. We focus on how quantum noise arises in gravitational-wave
interferometers and what limitations it imposes on the achievable sensitivity.
We start from the very basic concepts and gradually advance to the general
linear quantum measurement theory and its application to the calculation of
quantum noise in the contemporary and planned interferometric detectors of
gravitational radiation of the first and second generation. Special attention
is paid to the concept of Standard Quantum Limit and the methods of its
surmounting.Comment: 147 pages, 46 figures, 1 table. Published in Living Reviews in
Relativit
Factors affecting exhaled nitric oxide measurements: the effect of sex
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exhaled nitric oxide (F<sub>E</sub>NO) measurements are used as a surrogate marker for eosinophilic airway inflammation. However, many constitutional and environmental factors affect F<sub>E</sub>NO, making it difficult to devise reference values. Our aim was to evaluate the relative importance of factors affecting F<sub>E</sub>NO in a well characterised adult population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were obtained from 895 members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study at age 32. The effects of sex, height, weight, lung function indices, smoking, atopy, asthma and rhinitis on F<sub>E</sub>NO were explored by unadjusted and adjusted linear regression analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The effect of sex on F<sub>E</sub>NO was both statistically and clinically significant, with F<sub>E</sub>NO levels approximately 25% less in females. Overall, current smoking reduced F<sub>E</sub>NO up to 50%, but this effect occurred predominantly in those who smoked on the day of the F<sub>E</sub>NO measurement. Atopy increased F<sub>E</sub>NO by 60%. The sex-related differences in F<sub>E</sub>NO remained significant (p < 0.001) after controlling for all other significant factors affecting F<sub>E</sub>NO.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Even after adjustment, F<sub>E</sub>NO values are significantly different in males and females. The derivation of reference values and the interpretation of F<sub>E</sub>NO in the clinical setting should be stratified by sex. Other common factors such as current smoking and atopy also require to be taken into account.</p
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