Asthmatics Exhibit Altered Oxylipin Profiles Compared to Healthy Individuals after Subway Air Exposure

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) and oxidants are important factors in causing exacerbations in asthmatics, and the source and composition of pollutants greatly affects pathological implications.This randomized crossover study investigated responses of the respiratory system to Stockholm subway air in asthmatics and healthy individuals. Eicosanoids and other oxylipins were quantified in the distal lung to provide a measure of shifts in lipid mediators in association with exposure to subway air relative to ambient air.Sixty-four oxylipins representing the cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) metabolic pathways were screened using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)-fluid. Validations through immunocytochemistry staining of BAL-cells were performed for 15-LOX-1, COX-1, COX-2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Multivariate statistics were employed to interrogate acquired oxylipin and immunocytochemistry data in combination with patient clinical information.Asthmatics and healthy individuals exhibited divergent oxylipin profiles following exposure to ambient and subway air. Significant changes were observed in 8 metabolites of linoleic- and α-linolenic acid synthesized via the 15-LOX pathway, and of the COX product prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). Oxylipin levels were increased in healthy individuals following exposure to subway air, whereas asthmatics evidenced decreases or no change.Several of the altered oxylipins have known or suspected bronchoprotective or anti-inflammatory effects, suggesting a possible reduced anti-inflammatory response in asthmatics following exposure to subway air. These observations may have ramifications for sensitive subpopulations in urban areas

Developing systems thinking for sustainable development in engineering education

Present and future generations of engineering students are facing very different challenges than what engineering students did some 20-30 years back. The ability to appreciate the whole and assess complexity are abilities that become more and more urgent, in order to manage climate change, increased levels of chemicals in society, conversion of the energy system, food and water supply and many other challenges. To be able to act in a relevant way, students need to develop skills such as systems thinking to be able to assess complex systems. Systems thinking has been described as the ability to identify parts, causalities, flows and feedback loops. Systems thinking is likely a skill that engineering students develop to a varying degree during their university education, especially with regard to complex sustainability systems. In order to be able to improve engineering education in relation to systems thinking, it is important to understand what systems thinking is about and how systems thinking may be developed during the education. The overall aim of the study is to report on the first part of a study investigating how engineering students from two different programs develop systems thinking for sustainable development during their Bachelor education. In this part of the study, freshmen students (year 1) have been interviewed. The particular aim of this paper is to describe freshmen systems thinking before engaging in a university course on sustainable development. Group interviews were recorded and analysed for the students understanding and use of systems thinking. Students in both groups show evidence of systems thinking but it is intuitive rather that conscious and they lack a language to communicate about it. However, in one group the students together manage to describe complex systems.Non UBCUnreviewedFacultyOthe