The association of parity with osteoarthritis and knee replacement in the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study

SummaryObjectiveWe evaluated the association of parity to both risk of knee replacement (KR) and knee osteoarthritis (OA).DesignThe NIH-funded Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST) is a longitudinal observational study of persons age 50–79 years with either symptomatic knee OA or at elevated risk of disease. Baseline and 30-month knee radiographic OA (ROA) was defined as Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grade ≥2 or KR. Women were grouped based by number of births: 0; 1 (reference group); 2; 3; 4; and 5 or more. We examined the relation of parity to the incidence over 30 months of ROA and KR using a Poisson regression model. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to control for correlation between two knees within a subject. We adjusted for age, BMI, race, education, occupation, baseline estrogen use, clinical site, injury, and for KR analyses WOMAC pain and use of pain medication.ResultsAmong 1618 women who reported parity information, mean age was 62.6 years, mean BMI 30.7 kg/m2, mean WOMAC pain subscale score 3.7 at baseline. There were 115 KRs and 134 cases of incident knee ROA over 30 months. The relative risk of incident KR was 2.7 times as high (95% CI: 1.0, 7.3) and relative risk of incident knee ROA was 2.6 times as high (95% CI: 1.2, 5.3) among women with five to 12 children compared with those with one birth.ConclusionParity in women at risk for OA is associated with both incident ROA and KR, particularly for those with more than four children

Radiation Hydrodynamical Instabilities in Cosmological and Galactic Ionization Fronts

Ionization fronts, the sharp radiation fronts behind which H/He ionizing photons from massive stars and galaxies propagate through space, were ubiquitous in the universe from its earliest times. The cosmic dark ages ended with the formation of the first primeval stars and galaxies a few hundred Myr after the Big Bang. Numerical simulations suggest that stars in this era were very massive, 25 - 500 solar masses, with H II regions of up to 30,000 light-years in diameter. We present three-dimensional radiation hydrodynamical calculations that reveal that the I-fronts of the first stars and galaxies were prone to violent instabilities, enhancing the escape of UV photons into the early intergalactic medium (IGM) and forming clumpy media in which supernovae later exploded. The enrichment of such clumps with metals by the first supernovae may have led to the prompt formation of a second generation of low-mass stars, profoundly transforming the nature of the first protogalaxies. Cosmological radiation hydrodynamics is unique because ionizing photons coupled strongly to both gas flows and primordial chemistry at early epochs, introducing a hierarchy of disparate characteristic timescales whose relative magnitudes can vary greatly throughout a given calculation. We describe the adaptive multistep integration scheme we have developed for the self-consistent transport of both cosmological and galactic ionization fronts.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for proceedings of HEDLA2010, Caltech, March 15 - 18, 201

Life Course Racism and Depressive Symptoms among Young Black Women

The objective of this study is to evaluate the life course effects of racism on depressive symptoms in young Black women and to identify particularly sensitive periods. Guided by life-course theory and using logistic regression, we analyzed baseline data on racism frequency and stress from racism at two time periods (before age 20 and during the 20s) and follow-up data (at approximate 20-month intervals) on depressive symptoms (using a modified 11-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CES-D) among 1612 Black women participants aged 23–34 years living in Detroit, MI. Of the 1612 women, 65% reported experiencing some racism at baseline, and 36.5% had high depressive symptoms at follow-up. Those who experienced high frequency of racism before age 20 had an increased risk for high depressive symptoms (RR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.46) compared to participants in the low racism frequency group. We observed similar associations for high vs. low stress from racism (RR = 1.30, 95% CI : 1.06, 1.54) and high vs. low combination of racism frequency and stress (RR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.64). These findings did not hold or were weaker when assessing racism during the 20s. Among women who experienced high racism across the two time periods, the risk of high depressive symptoms was higher than those who experienced low racism during both periods (RR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.86). The slightly stronger associations between racism and depressive symptoms in childhood and adolescence than in young adulthood suggest that early life might be a sensitive period for experiencing racism

Identification and quantification of carbamate pesticides in dried lime tree flowers by means of excitation-emission molecular fluorescence and parallel factor analysis when quenching effect exists

A non-separative, fast and inexpensive spectrofluorimetric method based on the second order calibration of excitation-emission fluorescence matrices (EEMs) was proposed for the determination of carbaryl, carbendazim and 1-naphthol in dried lime tree flowers. The trilinearity property of three-way data was used to handle the intrinsic fluorescence of lime flowers and the difference in the fluorescence intensity of each analyte. It also made possible to identify unequivocally each analyte. Trilinearity of the data tensor guarantees the uniqueness of the solution obtained through parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), so the factors of the decomposition match up with the analytes. In addition, an experimental procedure was proposed to identify, with three-way data, the quenching effect produced by the fluorophores of the lime flowers. This procedure also enabled the selection of the adequate dilution of the lime flowers extract to minimize the quenching effect so the three analytes can be quantified. Finally, the analytes were determined using the standard addition method for a calibration whose standards were chosen with a D-optimal design. The three analytes were unequivocally identified by the correlation between the pure spectra and the PARAFAC excitation and emission spectral loadings. The trueness was established by the accuracy line “calculated concentration versus added concentration” in all cases. Better decision limit values (CCα), in x0 = 0 with the probability of false positive fixed at 0.05, were obtained for the calibration performed in pure solvent: 2.97 μg L−1 for 1-naphthol, 3.74 μg L−1 for carbaryl and 23.25 μg L−1 for carbendazim. The CCα values for the second calibration carried out in matrix were 1.61, 4.34 and 51.75 μg L−1 respectively; while the values obtained considering only the pure samples as calibration set were: 2.65, 8.61 and 28.7 μg L−1, respectively.theMinisteriodeEconomíayCompetitividad(CTQ2011-26022) and JuntadeCastillayLeón(BU108A11-2

Prediction of Zamorano cheese quality by near-infrared spectroscopy assessing false non-compliance and false compliance at minimum permitted limits stated by designation of origin regulations

Near-infrared transmittance (NIT) spectroscopy was used to predict the percentage in weight of the fat, dry matter, protein and fat/dry matter contents in Zamorano cheeses, protected with a Designation of Origin by the European Union. A total of 42 cheeses submitted to official control were analysed by reference methods. Samples were scanned (850–1050 nm) and predictive equations were developed using Partial Least Squares regression with a cross-validation step. Eight pretreatments independent from the remaining calibration samples were first considered. The most adequate one was that performing the second derivative (using a Savitzky–Golay method with a nine-point window and a second-order polynomial) followed by the standard normal variate transformation. Percentages of the root mean square error in cross-validation, the coefficient of determination and the mean of the absolute value of relative errors found were, respectively, for fat (0.62; 96.16; 1.05), dry matter (0.76; 96.03; 0.83), protein (0.41; 97.82; 0.81) and the fat/dry matter ratio (0.61; 92.51; 0.66). At a 99% confidence level, the trueness of the NIT+PLS methods for fat, dry matter and protein was verified. The official regulation for Zamorano cheese demands minimum permitted limits on the percentages in weight for protein (25%), dry matter (55%) and the ratio of fat to dry matter (45%). The adaptation of both the decision limit and the detection capability to the case of a minimum permitted limit (CDα and CDβ, respectively) when a Partial Least Squares calibration is used has been applied for the first time for a food product protected by a Designation of Origin. The values of CDα with a probability of false non-compliance equal to 0.05 and of CDβ when, in addition, the probability of false compliance was equal to or less than 0.05, both provided by the corresponding NIT+PLS-based method, were, respectively, for protein (24.78%; 24.57%), dry matter (54.14%; 53.28%) and the fat/dry matter ratio (44.39%; 43.78%).authorsthankthefinancialsupportprovidedbyMinisterio de CienciaeInnovacio´n (CTQ2011-26022)andJuntadeCastillay Leo´n (BU108A11-2

Intrauterine devices and endometrial cancer risk : a pooled analysis of the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium

Intrauterine devices (IUDs), long-acting and reversible contraceptives, induce a number of immunological and biochemical changes in the uterine environment that could affect endometrial cancer (EC) risk. We addressed this relationship through a pooled analysis of data collected in the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium. We combined individual-level data from 4 cohort and 14 case-control studies, in total 8,801 EC cases and 15,357 controls. Using multivariable logistic regression, we estimated pooled odds ratios (pooled-ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for EC risk associated with ever use, type of device, ages at first and last use, duration of use and time since last use, stratified by study and adjusted for confounders. Ever use of IUDs was inversely related to EC risk (pooled-OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.74-0.90). Compared with never use, reduced risk of EC was observed for inert IUDs (pooled-OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.58-0.82), older age at first use (≥35 years pooled-OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.43-0.67), older age at last use (≥45 years pooled-OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.50-0.72), longer duration of use (≥10 years pooled-OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.52-0.71) and recent use (within 1 year of study entry pooled-OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.30-0.49). Future studies are needed to assess the respective roles of detection biases and biologic effects related to foreign body responses in the endometrium, heavier bleeding (and increased clearance of carcinogenic cells) and localized hormonal changes

Determination of dichlobenil and its major metabolite (BAM) in onions by PTV–GC–MS using PARAFAC2 and experimental design methodology

The optimization of a GC–MS analytical procedure which includes derivatization, Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) and programmed temperature vaporization (PTV) using design of experiments is performed to determine 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile (dichlobenil) and 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) in onions, using 3,5-dichlorobenzonitrile and 2,4-dichlorobenzamide as internal standards. The use of a central composite design and two D-optimal designs, together with the desirability function, makes it possible to significantly reduce the economic, time and environmental cost of the study. The usefulness of PARAFAC2 for solving problems as the interference of unexpected derivatization artifacts unavoidably linked to some derivatization agents, or the presence of coeluents from the complex matrix, which share m/z ratios with the target compounds, is shown. The limits of decision (CCα) of the optimized procedure, 5.00 μg kg− 1 for dichlobenil and 1.55 μg kg− 1 for BAM (α = 0.05), are below the maximum residue limit (MRL) established by the EU for dichlobenil (20 μg kg− 1) in this commodity.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTQ2011-26022) and Junta de Castilla y León (BU108A11-2

Modelling phenolic and technological maturities of grapes by means of the multivariate relation between organoleptic and physicochemical properties

The ripeness of grapes at the harvest time is one of the most important parameters for obtaining high quality red wines. Traditionally the decision of harvesting is to be taken only after analysing sugar concentration, titratable acidity and pH of the grape juice (technological maturity). However, these parameters only provide information about the pulp ripeness and overlook the real degree of skins and seeds maturities (phenolic maturity). Both maturities, technological and phenolic, are not simultaneously reached, on the contrary they tend to separate depending on several factors: grape variety, cultivar, adverse weather conditions, soil, water availability and cultural practices. Besides, this divergence is increasing as a consequence of the climate change (larger quantities of CO2, less rain, and higher temperatures). 247 samples collected in vineyards representative of the qualified designation of origin Rioja from 2007 to 2011 have been analysed. Samples contain the four grape varieties usual in the elaboration of Rioja wines (‘tempranillo’, ‘garnacha’, ‘mazuelo’ and ‘graciano’). The present study is the first systematic investigation on the maturity of grapes that includes the organoleptic evaluation of the degree of grapes maturity (sugars/acidity maturity, aromatic maturity of the pulp, aromatic maturity of the skins and tannins maturity) together with the values of the physicochemical parameters (probable alcohol degree, total acidity, pH, malic acid, K, total index polyphenolics, anthocyans, absorbances at 420, 520 and 620 nm, colour index and tartaric acid) determined over the same samples. A varimax rotation of the latent variables of a PLS model between the physicochemical variables and the mean of four sensory variables allows identifying both maturities. Besides, the position of the samples in the first plane defines the effect that the different factors exert on both phenolic and technological maturitiesMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad (CTQ2011-26022) and Junta de Castilla y León (BU108A11-2

Towards an understanding of heavy baryon spectroscopy

The recent observation at CDF and D0 of $\Sigma_b$, $\Sigma^*_b$ and $\Xi_b$ baryons opens the door to the advent of new states in the bottom baryon sector. The states measured provide sufficient constraints to fix the parameters of phenomenological models. One may therefore consistently predict the full bottom baryon spectra. For this purpose we have solved exactly the three-quark problem by means of the Faddeev method in momentum space. We consider our guidance may help experimentalists in the search for new bottom baryons and their findings will help in constraining further the phenomenological models. We identify particular states whose masses may allow to discriminate between the dynamics for the light-quark pairs predicted by different phenomenological models. Within the same framework we also present results for charmed, doubly charmed, and doubly bottom baryons. Our results provide a restricted possible assignment of quantum numbers to recently reported charmed baryon states. Some of them are perfectly described by $D-$wave excitations with $J^P=5/2^+$, as the $\Lambda_c (2880)$, $\Xi_c(3055)$, and $\Xi_c(3123)$.Comment: Accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J.