15 research outputs found

    Effects of Cell-to-Cell Fuel Mal-Distribution on Fuel Cell Performance

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    Novel measures of cardiovascular health and its association with prevalence and progression of age-related macular degeneration: the CHARM study

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To determine if novel measures of cardiovascular health are associated with prevalence or progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Measures of the cardiovascular system: included intima media thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), systemic arterial compliance (SAC), carotid augmentation index (AI). For the prevalence study, hospital-based AMD cases and population-based age- and gender-matched controls with no signs of AMD in either eye were enrolled. For the progression component, participants with early AMD were recruited from two previous studies; cases were defined as progression in one or both eyes and controls were defined as no progression in either eye.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>160 cases and 160 controls were included in the prevalence component. The upper two quartiles of SAC, implying good cardiovascular health, were significantly associated with increased risk of AMD (OR = 2.54, 95% CL = 1.29, 4.99). High PWV was associated with increased prevalent AMD. Progression was observed in 82 (32.3%) of the 254 subjects recruited for the progression component. Higher AI (worse cardiovascular function) was protective for AMD progression (OR = 0.30, 95%CL = 0.13, 0.69). Higher aortic PWV was associated with increased risk of AMD progression; the highest risk was seen with the second lowest velocity (OR = 6.22, 95% CL = 2.35, 16.46).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results were unexpected in that better cardiovascular health was associated with increased risk of prevalent AMD and progression. Inconsistent findings between the prevalence and progression components could be due to truly different disease etiologies or to spurious findings, as can occur with inherent biases in case control studies of prevalence. Further investigation of these non-invasive methods of characterizing the cardiovascular system should be undertaken as they may help to further elucidate the role of the cardiovascular system in the etiology of prevalent AMD and progression.</p

    Examining the Relationship Between Parenting, Risk-Taking, and Delinquency in Japan: Context and Empirical Applicability

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    In criminology, the relationship between risk-taking and delinquency is well established. Although research on the relationship between risk-taking and delinquency is extensive, it is primarily limited to Western contexts. Particularly for Japan, little is known about the relationship between risk-taking and delinquency, as existing empirical studies in English are scarce. The present study examines the relationship between risk-taking and delinquency in the Japanese context. In briefly reviewing the literature on risk-taking in Japan, parenting was an important influence on levels of youths' risk-taking and delinquency. The findings primarily support the mediating role of high risk-taking between parenting and delinquency. Although high risk-taking explained why low maternal attachment and monitoring was related to delinquency, it was unable to explain the relationship completely

    Influence of the carbon/nitrogen/phosphorus ratio on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation by Mycobacterium and Sphingomonas in soil

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    Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment is often limited due to unfavorable nutrient conditions for the bacteria that use these PAHs as sole source of carbon and energy. Mycobacterium and Sphingomonas are 2 PAH-degrading specialists commonly present in PAH-polluted soil, but not much is known about their specific nutrient requirements. By adding different inorganic supplements of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), affecting the overall carbon/nitrogen/phosphorus ratio of soil in soil slurry degradation tests, we investigated the impact of soil inorganic N and P nutrient conditions on PAH degradation by PAH-degrading Sphingomonas and Mycobacterium strains. The general theoretically calculated C/N/P ratio of 100/10/1 (expressed in moles) allowed rapid PAH metabolization by Sphingomonas and Mycobacterium strains without limitation. In addition, PAH-degradation rate and extent was not affected when ca. ten times lower concentrations of N and P were provided, indicating that Sphingomonas and Mycobacterium strains are capable of metabolizing PAHs under low nutrient conditions. Nor does PAH-degradation seem to be affected by excesses of N and P creating an imbalanced C/N/P ratio. However, supplements of N and P salts increased the salinity of soil slurry solutions and seriously limited or even completely blocked biodegradation

    Dust metal loadings and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

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    We evaluated the relationship between the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and levels of metals in carpet dust. A dust sample was collected from the homes of 142 ALL cases and 187 controls participating in the California Childhood Leukemia Study using a high volume small surface sampler (2001–2006). Samples were analyzed using microwave-assisted acid digestion in combination with inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, tin, tungsten, and zinc. Eight metals were detected in at least 85% of the case and control homes; tungsten was detected in less than 15% of homes. Relationships between dust-metal loadings (μg metal per m(2) carpet) and ALL risk were modeled using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for the child’s age, sex, and race/ethnicity and confounders, including household annual income. A doubling of dust-metal loadings was not associated with significant changes in ALL risk [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): arsenic: 0.94 (0.83, 1.05), cadmium: 0.91 (0.80, 1.04), chromium: 0.99 (0.87, 1.12), copper: 0.96 (0.90, 1.03), lead: 1.01 (0.93, 1.10), nickel: 0.92 (0.80, 1.07), tin: 0.93 (0.82, 1.05), and zinc: 0.91 (0.81, 1.02)]. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that metals in carpet dust are risk factors for childhood ALL
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