Search

To investigate the potential association between snoring and other symptoms indicative of sleep-disordered breathing and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Hispanic adolescents and younger adults using a large population-based survey.Sleep-related information, anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples markers of MetS were obtained from subjects aged 15-40 years collected through the 2nd Chilean Health Survey. Regression models were constructed to evaluate the associations of snoring with MetS, hypertension and serum cholesterol levels. The modulating effect of sleep duration was accounted for in the models.A total of 2147 subjects (42% males, mean age 27.9±7.6 years) were included. Snoring and short sleep duration were present in 43.5 and 25% of the entire population, respectively. MetS was detected in 19.5% of the subjects. In the adjusted regression model, the odds of MetS among snoring subjects were 2.13 times higher (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.52-2.99; P0.01), and 1.53-fold higher odds of elevated cholesterol also emerged (95% CI: 1.12-2.10; P0.01). However, the odds of hypertension were not increased by the presence of snoring after adjusting for confounders. In addition, snoring was associated with an increase of 7.26 and 6.56 mg dlIn this large population-based sample of young Hispanic adults and adolescents, snoring, but not sleep duration, emerged as an independent risk factor for dyslipidemia and MetS, but not for hypertension.

Background Lesions related to working conditions and improper saddle design are a concern for a variety of working animals including elephants. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of cutaneous lesions in anatomic regions (i.e., neck, girth, back, tail) in contact with saddle-related equipment among elephants in Thailand working in the tourism industry, and to identify potential risk factors associated with these lesions. Data for this cross-sectional study were collected between May 2007 and July 2007 on 194 elephants from 18 tourism camps across Thailand. Results There was a high prevalence (64.4 %; 95 % CI 57.3 – 71.2) of active lesions, most often located on the back region. Using multilevel multivariable logistic regression modelling containing a random intercept for camp we identified the following risk factors: increasing elephant age, the use of rice sacks as padding material in contact with the skin, and the provision of a break for the elephants. Working hours had a quadratic relationship with the log odds of an active lesion where the probability of an active lesion initially increased with the number of working hours per day and then declined possibly reflecting a “healthy worker” bias where only animals without lesions continue to be able to work these longer hours. Conclusions While we recognize that the cross-sectional nature of the study posed some inferential limitations, our results offer several potential intervention points for the prevention of these lesions. Specifically, we recommend the following until longitudinal studies can be conducted: increased monitoring of older elephants and the back region of all elephants, working less than 6 hours per day, and the avoidance of rice sacks as padding material in contact with skin. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0438-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Cryopreservation has become anessential tool for operational application offorest tree embryogenic cultures, due to thelong evaluation periods needed for treesregenerated from these cultures. Fiveyellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)and seven sweetgum (Liquidambar spp.)embryogenic culture lines werestored in liquid nitrogen for 48 hours, afterwhich they were thawed and tested for regrowthand ability to produce somatic seedlings.Combinations of two sorbitol pretreatments andthree dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) cryoprotectantlevels were evaluated for their impact onrecovery following cryogenic storage. The bestresults were obtained with 0.4 M sorbitol and5% DMSO, which provided 100% recovery.Somatic seedlings were regenerated from allculture lines and treatments, except for atransgenic sweetgum line.

This report was prepared by a Working Group at the request of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences in 1997. The report addresses technical opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration between the United States and other international fusion research programs. A number of outstanding opportunities are discussed.

A biolistic particle delivery system was used to genetically transform embryogenic tissue of Pinus radiata. The introduced DNA contained a uidA reporter gene under the control of either the tandem CaMV 35S or the artificial Emu promoter, and the npt II selectable marker controlled by the CaMV 35S promoter. The average number of stable, geneticin-resistant lines recovered was 0.5 per 200 mg fresh weight bombarded tissue. Expression of the uidA reporter gene was detected histochemically and fluorimetrically in transformed embryogenic tissue and in derived mature somatic embryos and regenerated plants. The integration of uidA and npt II genes into the Pinus radiata genome was demonstrated using PCR amplification of the inserts and Southern hybridisation analysis. The expression of both genes in transformed tissue was confirmed by Northern hybridisation analysis. More than 150 transgenic Pinus radiata plants were produced from 20 independent transformation experiments with four different embryogenic clones.

This study was carried out to evaluate the safety, timing and cost-effectiveness of administering perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis with cefmetazole via intravenous (IV) bolus, or 'push', compared with the more common method of IV 'piggyback' administration. A total of 60 patients were studied, 30 in each group. No major adverse reactions were noted in either group. Phlebitis did not occur with either method of administration. Loss of patency was noted in 2 patients in the IV bolus group at the time of catheter removal. While no overall difference in timing of antibiotic administration in relation to the surgical procedure was noted, 2 patients in the IV piggyback group did not receive their preoperative dose until after surgery had started. Both pharmacy preparation time and nursing administration time were shorter with the IV push method, resulting in a cost avoidance of $US0.60 per dose. Material cost avoidance, primarily due to elimination of the minibag and IV tubing with bolus administration, was $US3.25 per dose. Extrapolated cost avoidance for our institution, for both prophylaxis and treatment, is $US184 000 per year. Administration of selected antibiotics by IV push is safe, allows optimal timing of administration, minimises preparation and administration time, and is cost-effective. Hospitals and outpatient care facilities should consider this alternative method of antibiotic administration.

The next major step in the development of fusion power involves the design, construction, and operation of an experimental power reactor. The general objective of this type of device is to demonstrate key plasma physics, materials, and engineering performance under conditions that approach those considered necessary to establish the technical feasibility of fusion power. This device is generally perceived to be a tokamak configuration that operates on the deuterium-tritium (D-T) fuel cycle, which would produce several hundred megawatts of fusion power. Although a number of conceptual design studies on this type of device have been conducted, the current effort is focused on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) activity, a joint undertaking of the European Community (EC), Japan, the United States, and the Soviet Union, conducted under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).The development of fusion power as an energy source depends to a large extent on the proper selection of materials for the various components. these materials will be exposed to a wide variety of conditions such as plasma particle and neutron radiation, high thermal fluxes, large thermal and mechanical stress, various chemical environments, and high magnetic fields. In order to achieve the high performance desired for a commercial power reactor, considerable materials development will be required. Because of the relatively near term time scale projected for ITER and the limited objectives, more conventional materials with more extensive data bases will be used where possible. Even so, a substantial materials development program is required to support a test reactor like ITER.

The activity coefficient of oxygen in vanadium was determined at 600‡, 650‡, 700‡, and 750"C by equilibrium distribution coefficient measurements in the V-O-Na system. The activity of oxygen in vanadium exhibits a significant negative deviation from Raoult's law (standard states: γ= 1at N = N‡). The activity coefficient is adequately expressed by the reciprocal temperature dependence, which is characteristic of a regular solution. The low oxygen pressures required for this investigation were attained by controlling the oxygen concentration in liquid sodium at levels below 20 ppm. The V(O sat)-ONa-V5O phase boundary and the equilibrium distribution of oxygen between vanadium and sodium were also determined in the temperature range 500‡ to 850‡C.

Periodic comet Tempel-2, first discovered in 1873, is a possible target of a spacecraft flyby in the 1980s. Accurate physical measurements of this comet have only recently been attempted. Few spectrophotometric data exist for any faint comet, but such data are presented for Tempel-2 at a heliocentric distance of 2.97 AU. The data were obtained during an outburst in which the comet exhibited heightened CN and C3 emission over a quiescent phase. Comet flares of such magnitude are exceptional and are particularly surprising for a periodic comet at such a large heliocentric distance.

Helianthus divaricatus andH. microcephalus are common diploid perennial sunflowers of eastern North America. They are occasionally found in mixed populations, and when the habitat is sufficiently disturbed, extensive hybrid swarms may result. There is little doubt that such swarms are actually the result of hybridization, since the artificial hybrid has been produced, and is comparable to the natural hybrids. The type specimen ofH. glaucus apparently represents a hybrid of this combination. The artificial hybrids show little sterility, and meiosis is essentially normal. This would permit introgression to occur in nature, and the analysis of natural populations suggests that it does occur to a limited extent. The genetic barriers are poorly developed in these species, and are difficult to justify as species on this basis alone. However morphological, ecological, and geographical differences seem to be sufficient to warrant the recognition of the two parental types as species.