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Bacterial communities form the basis of biogeochemical processes and determine plant growth and health. Mosses harbour diverse bacterial communities that are involved in nitrogen fixation and carbon cycling. Global climate change is causing changes in aboveground plant biomass and shifting species composition in the Arctic, but little is known about the response of moss microbiomes in these environments. Here, we studied the total and potentially active bacterial communities associated with Racomitrium lanuginosum in response to a 20-yr in situ warming in an Icelandic heathland. We evaluated the effect of warming and warming-induced shrub expansion on the moss bacterial community composition and diversity, and nifH gene abundance. Warming changed both the total and the potentially active bacterial community structure, while litter abundance only affected the total bacterial community structure. The abundance of nifH genes was negatively affected by litter abundance. We also found shifts in the potentially nitrogen-fixing community, with Nostoc decreasing and noncyanobacterial diazotrophs increasing in relative abundance. Our data suggest that the moss microbial community and potentially nitrogen fixing taxa will be sensitive to future warming, partly via changes in litter and shrub abundance.

Asparagine-linked glycosylation 13 homolog (ALG13) encodes a nonredundant, highly conserved, X-linked uridine diphosphate (UDP)-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase required for the synthesis of lipid linked oligosaccharide precursor and proper N-linked glycosylation. De novo variants in ALG13 underlie a form of early infantile epileptic encephalopathy known as EIEE36, but given its essential role in glycosylation, it is also considered a congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG), ALG13-CDG. Twenty-four previously reported ALG13-CDG cases had de novo variants, but surprisingly, unlike most forms of CDG, ALG13-CDG did not show the anticipated glycosylation defects, typically detected by altered transferrin glycosylation. Structural homology modeling of two recurrent de novo variants, p.A81T and p.N107S, suggests both are likely to impact the function of ALG13. Using a corresponding ALG13-deficient yeast strain, we show that expressing yeast ALG13 with either of the highly conserved hotspot variants rescues the observed growth defect, but not its glycosylation abnormality. We present molecular and clinical data on 29 previously unreported individuals with de novo variants in ALG13. This more than doubles the number of known cases. A key finding is that a vast majority of the individuals presents with West syndrome, a feature shared with other CDG types. Among these, the initial epileptic spasms best responded to adrenocorticotropic hormone or prednisolone, while clobazam and felbamate showed promise for continued epilepsy treatment. A ketogenic diet seems to play an important role in the treatment of these individuals. Fil: Ng, Bobby G.. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute; Estados Unidos Fil: Eklund, Erik A.. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute; Estados Unidos. Lund University; Suecia Fil: Shiryaev, Sergey A.. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute; Estados Unidos Fil: Dong, Yin Y.. University of Oxford; Reino Unido Fil: Abbott, Mary Alice. University of Massachusetts Medical School; Estados Unidos Fil: Asteggiano, Carla Gabriela. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios de las Metabolopatías Congénitas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina Fil: Bamshad, Michael J.. University of Washington; Estados Unidos Fil: Barr, Eileen. University of Emory; Estados Unidos Fil: Bernstein, Jonathan A.. University of Stanford; Estados Unidos Fil: Chelakkadan, Shabeed. Monash Children's Hospital; Australia Fil: Christodoulou, John. Sydney Medical School; Australia. University of Melbourne; Australia Fil: Chung, Wendy K.. Columbia University; Estados Unidos Fil: Ciliberto, Michael A.. University of Iowa; Estados Unidos Fil: Cousin, Janice. National Human Genome Research Institute ; Estados Unidos Fil: Gardiner, Fiona. University of Melbourne; Australia Fil: Ghosh, Suman. University of Florida; Estados Unidos Fil: Graf, William D.. University of Connecticut; Estados Unidos Fil: Grunewald, Stephanie. University College London; Estados Unidos Fil: Hammond, Katherine. University of Alabama at Birmingahm; Estados Unidos Fil: Hauser, Natalie S.. Inova, Fairfax Hospital Falls Church; Estados Unidos Fil: Hoganson, George E.. University Of Illinois At Chicago; Estados Unidos Fil: Houck, Kimberly M.. Baylor College of Medicine; Estados Unidos Fil: Kohler, Jennefer N.. University of Stanford; Estados Unidos Fil: Morava, Eva. Mayo Clinic; Estados Unidos Fil: Larson, Austin A.. University Of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.; Estados Unidos Fil: Liu, Pengfei. Baylor Genetics; Estados Unidos. Baylor College Of Medicine; Estados Unidos Fil: Madathil, Sujana. University of Iowa; Estados Unidos Fil: McCormack, Colleen. University of Stanford; Estados Unidos Fil: Meeks, Naomi J.L.. University Of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.; Estados Unidos Fil: Papazoglu, Gabriela Magali. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios de las Metabolopatías Congénitas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina

Solanum americanum Mill. is a weed that occurs with a number of crops, and it is known for its high seed production and its staggered germination. The objective of this work was to evaluate the germination behavior of S. americanum seeds under the influence of chemical and environmental factors. In the laboratory, we tested the effect on germination of (i) constant and alternating temperatures, (ii) seed washing, (iii) exposure time and concentration of chemical treatments and (iv) seeding depth and soil covered with plant residue on seedling emergence. The variables analyzed were germination percentage, germination rate index, seedling emergence and length of the seedlings. The results indicated that alternating temperatures are the main way to promote germination of S. americanum; however, chemical treatments can help to increase the germination percentage and rate index. There was no increase in germination with seed washing, with the exception of KNO₃ application. A GA₃ concentration of 0.84 g L⁻¹ and an exposure time of 21.22 h in 0.2% of KNO₃ promoted the highest germination of S. americanum. Germination occurs when seeds remain on the soil surface and are not covered by crop residue.

INTRODUCTION The CLOSE protocol combines ablation index (AI) and ≤6 mm interlesion distance using standard power settings for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose was to compare the safety and efficacy of a conventional CLOSE and a higher power shorter duration (HPSD)-CLOSE pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) strategy. METHODS AND RESULTS All consecutive patients referred for PVI were included after informed consent was obtained from them. Group 1 was treated with a standard CLOSE protocol and group 2 with a HPSD-CLOSE protocol (45 W anterior and 35 W posterior). Procedural parameters and 6-month follow-up were analyzed. In total, 174 patients (group 1: n = 94 [paroxysmal: n = 74]; group 2: n = 80 [paroxysmal: n = 65], similar baseline characteristics) were included. PVI was reached in all, but procedure duration (82 ± 18 minutes vs 100 ± 22 minutes; P

Aims Peripheral neuropathy (PN), the major neurological complication of chronic HCV infection, is frequently associated with mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) and small-vessel systemic vasculitis. While humoral and cell-mediated immune mechanisms are suspected to act together in an aberrant immune response that results in peripheral nerve damage, the role of HCV remains largely speculative. The possible demonstration of HCV in peripheral nerve tissue would obviously assume important pathogenic implications. Methods We studied sural nerve biopsies from 11 HCV-positive patients with neuropathic symptoms: 5 with and 6 without MC. In situ hybridization (ISH) and immunofluorescence studies were carried out to detect genomic and antigenomic HCV RNA sequences and HCV-encoded E2-glycoprotein, respectively. Results Epineurial vascular deposits of E2-glycoprotein were found in 4 (80%) MC and in 2 (33.3%) non-MC patients, respectively. These findings were enhanced by the perivascular deposition of positive-, though not negative-strand replicative RNA, as also found in the nerve extracts of all patients. Mild inflammatory cell infiltrates with no deposits of immunoglobulins and/or complement proteins were revealed around small vessels, without distinct vasculitis changes between MC and non-MC patients. Conclusions These results indicate that nerve vascular HCV RNA/E2 deposits associated to perivascular inflammatory infiltrates were similar in chronically HCV-infected patients, regardless of cryoglobulin occurrence. Given the failure to demonstrate HCV productive infection in the examined sural nerve biopsies, nerve damage is likely to result from virus-triggered immune-mediated mechanisms. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

With over five million confirmed cases leading to over 165,000 deaths, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has quickly made a large impact in the United States (US). COVID‐19, which began as a viral outbreak in Wuhan City, China, was first detected in the US during January, 2020 (1). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

AIM To assess the prevalence of vascular dementia, mixed dementia and Alzheimer's disease in patients with atrial fibrillation, and to evaluate the accuracy of the Hachinski ischemic score for these subtypes of dementia. METHODS A nested case-control study was carried out. A total of 103 of 784 consecutive patients evaluated for cognitive status at the Ambulatory Geriatric Clinic had a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Controls without atrial fibrillation were randomly selected from the remaining 681 patients using a 1:2 matching for sex, age and education. RESULTS The prevalence of vascular dementia was twofold in patients with atrial fibrillation compared with controls (21.4% vs 10.7%, P = 0.024). Alzheimer's disease was also more frequent in the group with atrial fibrillation (12.6% vs 7.3%, P = 0.046), whereas mixed dementia had a similar distribution. The Hachinski ischemic score poorly discriminated between dementia subtypes, with misclassification rates between 46% (95% CI 28-66) and 70% (95% CI 55-83). In patients with atrial fibrillation, these rates ranged from 55% (95% CI 32-77) to 69% (95% CI 39-91%). In patients in whom the diagnosis of dementia was excluded, the Hachinski ischemic score suggested the presence of vascular dementia in 11% and mixed dementia in 30%. CONCLUSIONS Vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease, but not mixed dementia, are more prevalent in patients with atrial fibrillation. The discriminative accuracy of the Hachinski ischemic score for dementia subtypes in atrial fibrillation is poor, with a significant proportion of misclassifications.

Most patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) develop cortical tubers that cause severe neurological disabilities. It has been suggested that defects in neuronal differentiation and/or migration underlie the appearance of tubers. However, the precise molecular alterations remain largely unknown. Here, by combining cytological and immunohistochemical analyses of tubers from nine TSC patients (four of them diagnosed with TSC2 germline mutations), we show that alteration of microtubule biology through ROCK2 signalling contributes to TSC neuropathology. All tubers showed a larger number of binucleated neurons than expected relative to control cortex. An excess of normal and altered cytokinetic figures was also commonly observed. Analysis of centrosomal markers suggested increased microtubule nucleation capacity, which was supported by the analysis of an expression dataset from cortical tubers and control cortex, and subsequently linked to under-expression of Rho-associated coiled-coil containing kinase 2 (ROCK2). Thus, augmented microtubule nucleation capacity was observed in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and human fibroblasts deficient in the Tsc2/TSC2 gene product, tuberin. Consistent with ROCK2 under-expression, microtubule acetylation was found to be increased with tuberin deficiency; this alteration was abrogated by rapamycin treatment and mimicked by HDAC6 inhibition. Together, the results of this study support the hypothesis that loss of TSC2 expression can alter microtubule organization and dynamics, which, in turn, deregulate cell division and potentially impair neuronal differentiation. Copyright

When using an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) for dosimetric verifications, the calibration of the sensitive area is of paramount importance. Two calibration methods are generally adopted: one, empirical, based on an external reference dosimeter or on multiple narrow beam irradiations, and one based on the EPID response simulation. In this paper we present an alternative approach based on an intercalibration procedure, independent from external dosimeters and from simulations, and is quick and easy to perform. Each element of a detector matrix is characterized by a different gain; the aim of the calibration procedure is to relate the gain of each element to a reference one. The method that we used to compute the relative gains is based on recursive acquisitions with the EPID placed in different positions, assuming a constant fluence of the beam for subsequent deliveries. By applying an established procedure and analysis algorithm, the EPID calibration was repeated in several working conditions. Data show that both the photons energy and the presence of a medium between the source and the detector affect the calibration coefficients less than 1%. The calibration coefficients were then applied to the acquired images, comparing the EPID dose images with films. Measurements were performed with open field, placing the film at the level of the EPID. The standard deviation of the distribution of the point‐to‐point difference is 0.6%. An approach of this type for the EPID calibration has many advantages with respect to the standard methods — it does not need an external dosimeter, it is not related to the irradiation techniques, and it is easy to implement in the clinical practice. Moreover, it can be applied in case of transit or nontransit dosimetry, solving the problem of the EPID calibration independently from the dose reconstruction method. PACS number: 87.56.‐v

Summary Two types of products obtained from the processing of Olea europaea cv ‘Taggiasca’ were monitored: pitted olives and olive paste preserved in monovarietal extra-virgin olive oil of the same variety. The aim of this study was to follow the trends in the main physico-chemical and sensory parameters related to the quality of these table olives and their covering oils, for simulation of the shelf-life conditions. From all of the analyses carried out, it can be concluded that the optimum time of storage of these two products packaged in glass jars at room temperature (between 18 and 25 °C) and under artificial light and away from heat sources is approximately 9 months. After 9 months of storage, the covering oils were greatly affected by the contact with the broken fruit, which was accompanied by reductions in their antioxidant content due to the thermal treatment. The oxidative effects seen through physico-chemical analyses are in agreement with the organoleptic analysis.

Background and objective: COPD is associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQL) and cardiac autonomic dysfunction. Data describing the association between these factors in patients with COPD are mostly lacking. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there is an association between cardiac autonomic dysfunction and HRQL in COPD. Methods: We studied 60 patients with COPD (37 women, mean (SD) age 65.20 (7.73) years, FEV1 % pred. 46.58 (18.53) %) and measured HRQL, as assessed by the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire, and cardiac autonomic dysfunction, as assessed by heart rate variability (HRV). Analysis of HRV was performed using a Holter-ECG device during a recording period of 5 min. To evaluate a possible association between these factors, univariate and multivariate analyses were used. Results: There was a significant correlation between Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire total score and both variables of HRV reflecting parasympathetic tone; root mean square successive difference of RR intervals (rMSSD) (r = 0.34, P = 0.012) and the density of the beat-to-beat oscillation in the N-N interval of HRV in the high-frequency band (HF power) (r = 0.35, P = 0.01). In a multivariate analysis rMSSD was found to be independently associated with HRQL after correcting for FEV1, carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (DLCO), 6MWD and CRP. Conclusions: Resting parasympathetic tone, as measured by HRV, is independently associated with HRQL, which emphasizes the role of cardiac autonomic dysfunction on HRQL in patients with COPD.

Aim To investigate the factors associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among non-injecting cocaine users (NICUs) and to compare practices associated with HCV and HIV infection. Design An intercountry cross-sectional study. Setting Buenos Aires and Montevideo metropolitan areas. Participants A total of 871 NICUs. Measurements NICUs were interviewed and their blood was drawn and used for HCV, HIV, HBV surface antigen (HbsAg), HB-anticore and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VRDL) antibody assays. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses included comparisons of HCV and HIV mono-infected participants with HCV–HIV seronegatives. Findings Prevalence rates were 8.8 [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.9–10.8) for HCV and 7.9 (95% CI: 6.1–9.7) for HIV. HCV-infected NICUs were twice as likely as HCV–HIV seronegatives to have shared straws for cocaine snorting or sniffing, even when adjusted for other variables. HCV prevalence rates ranged from 3.6% among NICUs who denied sharing straws and having had an injection drug user (IDU) or an HIV-positive sexual partner to 12.6% among participants who reported ever having shared straws or having had either an IDU- or HIV-positive sexual partner (χ2trend = 6.56, P = 0.01). Conclusions Non-injecting cocaine users from South America are vulnerable to multiple infections and HCV infection appears to occur through the sharing of straws. HCV infection is associated with intimate relationships with IDUs or HIV-seropositive partners, supporting the hypothesis that HCV risk may be due primarily to risk-taking behaviour associated with drugs in this population.

Objectives/Hypothesis: This study's aim was to verify whether, in patients affected by sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) with high plasmatic levels of low-density–lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and/or fibrinogen, the therapeutic approach with a single selective plasmapheresis (HELP-apheresis) followed by 10 days of standard treatment (glycerol and dexamethazone) is more effective than 10 days of standard treatment. Study Design: Randomized, superiority study (difference ≥30%). Methods: One hundred thirty-two patients were admitted to the trial and randomly allocated to two different arms; 60 were given standard treatment and 72 were treated with HELP-apheresis plus standard treatment. Patients showed a value of LDL cholesterol >120 mg/dL and/or fibrinogen >320 mg/dL. Results: In the HELP-apheresis plus standard therapy group, we observed a hearing recovery in 75% of the patients 24 hours after treatment and in 76.4% of the patients 10 days after treatment. Only 25% of the patients after 24 hours and 23.6% of the patients after 10 days showed no change. In the standard therapy group, the percentage of patients with hearing recovery was 41.7% after 24 hours and 45% after 10 days, whereas 58.3% after 24 hours and 55% after 10 days had no change. Conclusions: The analysis enabled us to consider HELP-apheresis as the element that makes a difference in hearing recovery. In a specific group of patients, with alterations in cholesterol and/or fibrinogen, the HELP-apheresis treatment is a further option available in SSHL therapy. Laryngoscope, 2010

In the present study, we evaluated chemical, nutritional, sensory and textural characteristics of table olives of an Italian double-aptitude olive cultivar (Olea europaea L. cv. Intosso d'Abruzzo). The aim of this work was to focus some physico-chemical characteristics of this end product in order to enhance the value of this fruit from a nutritional point of view. These table olives are fruits with an appreciable content of fibre (2.6 g/100 g) and natural antioxidants such as polyphenols (167.8 mg/100 g) and α-tocopherol (6.44 mg/100 g). In this cultivar, oil content is high (17.5 g/100 g), such as MUFA (13.6 g/100 g). The protein content is low (1 g/100 g), but nutritional quality is high for the presence of essential amino acids.

Extremely high plasma triglyceride (TG) concentration is a recognized risk factor for acute pancreatitis (AP). In order to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of plasma-exchange plasmapheresis in treating patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG), 17 patients who had not responded to conventional medical therapy (fat-free diet plus pharmaceutical interventions) were referred for therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in a multicenter frame case series study. Two hundred seventeen TPE sessions were performed, and therapy is ongoing for five (30%) of the patients. After treatment, the mean plasma TG and total cholesterol concentrations were significantly reduced from 1929 and 510 mg/dL, to 762 and 227 mg/dL, respectively (P < or = 0.001 in both cases). In most cases, the interval between treatments was related to the clinical presentation and individual circumstances. The removal of TG-rich lipoproteins prevented relapses of AP. In this case series, TPE is confirmed as a safe and reliable method for treating patients with refractory sHTG when a severe complication, such as AP, is clinically demonstrated or can be actively prevented. Therefore, in cases where standard medical approaches fail to promote the clearance of TGs from plasma and a high risk of first or second hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis persists, TPE provides a therapeutic option for preventing life-threatening sHTG.

Lactobacillus sanfrancisco CB1 and Lactobacillus plantarumDC400 were the most proteolytic and amylolytic strains stud-ied. Breads started with LAB and yeasts had higher volumesthan the baker’s yeast-started bread. One bread with the high-est initial firmness (Saccharomyces cerevisiae 141-L.plantarum DC400 starter) had the lowest final firmness.Breads produced with LAB showed the lowest enthalpythroughout 144 h. After 24 h storage the associations of S.cerevisiae 141 and L. sanfrancisco CB1 or L. plantarum DC400gave a very low percentage increase of enthalpy comparedto that from yeast alone. The enthalpy increased markedlywhen other LAB, neither proteolytic nor amylolytic, were used.Key Words: bread, sourdough, lactic acid bacteria, firm-ness, staling INTRODUCTION P HYSICOCHEMICAL CHANGES ( E . G . STALING , FIRMING ) AND MICRO -biological spoilage (e.g. ropiness, mold growth) markedly reduce theshelf-life of bread. Attempts have been made to improve the keepingquality of bread either by varying the product formulation (Ludewig,1988; Ortola et al., 1989), processing (Salovaara and Valjakka, 1987)or packaging conditions (Knorr and Tomlins, 1985; Ortola et al.,1989). The addition to the dough of compounds occurring naturally inwheat flour (fructose and organic acids) has been proposed to directthe fermentation since they produce specific compounds associatedwith desired characteristics and good bread keeping quality (Barber etal., 1992; Gobbetti et al., 1995a).The limited knowledge of the physicochemical changes involvedin the mechanisms of bread staling and the economic importance of alonger keeping quality make this subject of great interest. Gluten andits ratio with starch were decisive factors in bread firmness with greatinfluence on elastic changes during bread storage (Banecki, 1982).Variations of water activity and moisture contents in the near-crustarea also influence bread staling and firmness (Czuchajowska andPomeranz, 1989). Spontaneous sourdoughs with low pH and a highratio of lactic and acetic acids produced breads with the highest vol-umes and lowest rates of staling during storage (Barber et al., 1992).The level of native lipids in intact flour was enhanced by shorteningand was effective in decreasing firmness (Rogers et al., 1988). Chang-es in the ratio of amylose to amylopectin by adding waxy barley starchto a high-protein wheat flour resulted in softer bread one day afterbaking or after reheating (Ghiasi et al., 1984). Low-level treatmentswith -amylases from different sources increased the water-bindingcapacity and gelatinization temperatures of starch as well as the bread-baking quality (Kuracina et al., 1987). Physical methods like crumbfirmness and elasticity evaluation (Berglund and Shelton, 1993) andcalorimetry analysis of starch changes during staling (Zeleznak andHoseney, 1987) have also classically been used to study storagechanges.

Although the majority of hemangiomas of infancy do not require treatment, a subset of patients have complications such as ulceration, functional impairment or severe disfigurement that necessitate intervention. It is often difficult to predict which hemangiomas will lead to permanent disfigurement and medical complications. We present three patients with segmental facial hemangiomas involving the nose which resulted in nasal cartilage destruction. All three patients had a linear gray atrophic crease in the inferior columella visualized on clinical examination prior to the onset of nasal collapse. We propose that this ‘‘nasal crease sign’’ in infants with segmental facial hemangioma involving the nose and philtrum may be a premonitory clinical finding of impending nasal cartilage destruction. Dermatologists should be aware of this clinical sign which may help identify patients at high risk of nasal destruction. Unfortunately, aggressive medical intervention may not always prevent devastating disfigurement.

Children with psoriasis often have involvement of the face and intertriginous areas. While corticosteroids have been the mainstay of treatment for plaque-type psoriasis, the face and intertriginous areas are more sensitive to local effects of topical steroid use such as cutaneous atrophy. Topical tacrolimus has shown promise in adult patients as an alternative antiinflammatory without the cutaneous side effects of steroids. Eleven patients between 6 and 15 years of age with facial or inverse psoriasis were evaluated in a 6-month, single-center, open-label trial. Clinical evaluations were made at baseline and days 30, 90, and 180. Severity was assessed using the physician's global assessment of improvement relative to baseline, a 6-point rating scale for signs of disease (erythema, infiltration, desquamation), and an overall severity score. Within the first 30 days of treatment, every patient had cleared or achieved excellent improvement with the use of tacrolimus ointment. Statistically significant improvement was achieved in each sign of disease and the overall severity score. The only adverse event reported in 6 months of observation was significant pruritus in one patient. We therefore conclude that tacrolimus ointment is an effective treatment for psoriasis on the face or intertriginous areas in children.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine whether injury risk among manufacturing workers was related to hours worked during the previous week. METHODS: A case-crossover design was utilized to contrast hours worked prior to an injury shift with those worked prior to a non-injury shift for hourly workers. Paired t-tests were used to determine significance of the difference. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess dose-response. RESULTS: Hours worked prior to injury significantly exceeded hours during the control week. Workers who worked more than 64 hr in the week before the shift had an 88% excess risk compared to those who worked 40 hr or fewer, P < 0.05. CONCLUSION: The study provides evidence that injury risk is related to time worked during the previous week. Control of overtime in manufacturing may reduce risk of worker injury. Language: en

Plant productivity, phenolic profile and natural fermentation, with and without lactic acid bacteria inoculants, were investigated in olive fruit of Ascolana tenera growing under different irrigation regimes. A rainfed control and two treatments receiving a water depth equivalent to 33 and 66% of the estimated crop evapotranspiration (ETc) from the pit hardening stage and a treatment with 66% of ETc during the entire season (25 May-4 October), were tested. Olive vigour increased with irrigation, which also induced a fresh yield enhancement, mainly due to the increase in fruit size. The differences between treatments were less evident for fruit number per tree and pulp/stone ratio. The phenolic content increased in water deficit-stressed olives and differences were detected in the concentrations of individual phenolic compounds. Olive oil content and fatty acids composition appeared scarcely affected by irrigation. Values of pH, acidity, sugars, phenolic composition and microbial population were monitored during olive fermentation. Extracts of freshly harvested olive fruits exhibited significantly higher phenolic content than extracts of processed olives. The interaction of irrigation and fermentation appeared to have a significant effect on the chemical and sensory characteristics of the end product. The bitter taste of olive fruit was positively correlated with the level of total phenolics, but negatively correlated with the overall acceptability for direct consumption. The fermentation process was accelerated in the presence of lactic acid bacteria inoculants, indicating the potential use of these microorganisms as quality control markers in table olives during processing. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry

Among the Italian olive germplasm, 'Ascolana tenera' is one of the best varieties for table olive production. This research addressed the impact of different processing types (Greek-style and Spanish-style) on the fermentation and phenolic composition of olive fruit. In particular, the effects of a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) starter culture on the fermentation of naturally green olives processed according to the traditional Greek method were studied. Results revealed that Spanish-style processing produced a dramatic loss of total phenolics, while natural olive processing favoured a higher retention of biophenols. Oleoside 11-methylester, a phenol-related compound, and hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, vanillic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, oleuropein and oleuropein aglycons, as the main phenols, were detected in olive fruit. More interestingly, this research indicated that inoculation with LAB affected the pH, total acidity, microbial profile and palatability of olives. Olives fermented with the LAB starter culture were perceived by panellists to be less bitter and more aromatic than those spontaneously fermented. Thus the use of LAB inoculants during olive fermentation could be applied with the currently available technology.

Turf quality is a complex character of fundamental importance in turfgrass evaluation. It takes into account aesthetic and functional aspects, and depends on several individual components which may vary with time. The use of a synthetic and simple quality score is necessary when evaluating large numbers of varieties. The quality of 110 turfgrass varieties belonging to four species (Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis, Festuca arundinacea and F. rubra) was assessed in the second and third years of growth at three Italian locations, i.e. Lodi (Po Valley, continental climate), Perugia (central Italy, sub-Mediterranean climate) and Foggia (southern Italy, Mediterranean climate), using a visual score ranging from 9 (outstanding turf) to 1 (very poor turf). A randomized block design with three replicates was used, with varieties of the same species being blocked to facilitate the comparison within species. On average, F. rubra had the lowest turf quality score in summer, whereas the other species had the lowest quality score in winter and the highest quality score in summer and autumn. Components of variance were large for genotype (i.e. variety) main effects in all species. A variety × location interaction was found in F. arundinacea and higher-order interactions were also found for P. pratensis and F. rubra. Genotype × environment effects were small relative to genotypic effects in L. perenne. Variety × year interactions were small in all cases, whereas variety × location and variety × season interactions were greater. Stability of turf quality across sites, seasons and years was measured for each variety in terms of environmental variance, i.e. the variance of score values across sites, years and seasons. Mean scores and stability values of varieties were integrated into an index of reliability that estimated the lowest score value expected in 0·80 of cases. For each species, a small subset of highly reliable varieties could be identified. Implications of the results for the testing and breeding of varieties in Italy are discussed.

Sterols, triterpene dialcohols, long-chain aliphatic alcohols and higher triterpene alcohols were determined in three fruit oil kinds (seed, pulp and whole fruit oils). Seven major Italian olive fruit varieties from the same environment were considered. Results of this research suggested that the compositional data concerning the above analytical fractions were effective in discriminating between seed and pulp oils. The seed oil fraction did not substantially modify the sterol and alcohol composition of the whole fruit oil (mixture of seed and pulp oils), the percentage weight of the seed (∼2%) being far lower than that of the pulp (∼85%) (whole fruit weight basis). Based on the concentrations of the above components and using appropriate statistical parametric or non-parametric multivariate techniques, the genetic origin (olive variety) of the three fruit oil kinds was characterised. L'huile d'olive, beneficiant de la denomination d'origine protegee, necessite des procedures fiables pour la detection des fraudes. Cette etude determine les teneurs en sterols, dialcools triterpenes, alcools triterpenes superieurs et alcools aliphatiques a chaine longue dans des huiles produites a partir de l'amande, de la pulpe et du fruit entier. Les donnees analytiques sont traitees statistiquement pour differencier les varietes genetiques de l'olive.

Cardiac stimulation threshold of implanted pacemakers may be influenced by a variety of endogenous and exogenous factors. High altitude provokes hypoxemia, which may change stimulation thresholds, besides causing other important physiological changes. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of high altitude on ventricular stimulation thresholds in pacemaker patients. Thirteen patients (10 men; aged 65.5 +/- 4.8 years) with implanted single chamber pacemakers (nine with Pacesetter Regency SR+ with the Autocapture feature) were exposed to an altitude of 4,000 m above sea level, as simulated in a hypobaric chamber. Stepwise ascension was performed with a speed of 5 m/s starting at 450 m above sea level. A 5-minute rest was performed every 500 m to measure stimulation threshold at each step. After a stay of 30 minutes at 4,000 m stimulation threshold was measured, followed by a stepwise descent. Pacemaker interrogation and arterial blood gas analysis were performed at 450 and at 4,000 m, and a strength-duration curve was determined. Blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were monitored continuously during the study. Ascent to 4,000 m above sea level induced a significant decrease in arterial pO2 (10.7 +/- 1.1 vs 5.5 +/- 0.3 kPa), pCO2 (5.3 +/- 0.3 vs 4.7 +/- 0.4 kPa), oxygen saturation measured by arterial blood gas analysis (95.5% +/- 1.2% vs 79.1% +/- 2.5%), and increase in pH (7.39 +/- 0.02 vs 7.45 +/- 0.04) (P < 0.0001). Stimulation thresholds and the strength-duration curve remained unchanged in all patients throughout the study. In conclusion, exposure to an altitude of 4,000 m above sea level with resultant hypobaric hypoxemia has no impact on ventricular stimulation thresholds. Therefore, in regard to the safety of pacing, pacemaker patients can safely be exposed to this altitude.

Recent studies from Europe suggest a continuing increase in thyroid cancer, but it is unclear whether this trend also applies to the United States. The current study examined the long-term trend of thyroid cancer in Connecticut. Our results show that the overall age-adjusted incidence rate of thyroid cancer has been increasing in Connecticut, from 1.30/100,000 in 1935-1939 to 5.78/100,000 in 1990-1992 in females, and from 0.30/100,000 in 1935-1939 to 2.77/100,000 in 1990-1992 in males. The increase mainly comes from papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. The birth cohort analyses indicate that the increase in thyroid cancer occurred among cohorts born between 1915 and 1945, which experienced an increase of 31.4% every 5 years in males and 17.3% in females over the period 1960-1979. For those born since the 1945 cohort, the incidence has been decreasing, at rates of 9.3% and 8.3% every 5 years over the period 1975-1992 in males and females, respectively. Age-period-cohort modeling results also suggest a strong birth cohort effect on the observed time trend in both sexes, which closely follows the introduction of radiation treatment of benign childhood conditions in the head and neck between 1920 and the 1950s in the United States. Our results are consistent with the suggested radiation hypothesis, indicating that radiation treatment of benign childhood conditions in the head and neck is largely responsible for the observed increase of thyroid cancer in Connecticut.

Quinolinic acid, an endogenous excitotoxin, and kynurenic acid, an antagonist of excitatory amino acid receptors, are believed to be synthesized from tryptophan after the opening of the indole ring. They were measured in the rat brain and other organs using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry or HPLC. The enzyme indoleamine 2,3-diox-ygenase, capable of cleaving the indole ring of tryptophan, was induced by administering bacterial endotoxins to rats, which significantly increased the brain content of both quinolinic and kynurenic acids. Nicotinylalanine, an analogue of kynurenine, inhibited this endotoxin-induced accumulation of quinolinic acid while potentiating the accumulation of-kynurenic acid. The possibility of significantly increasing brain concentrations of kynurenic acid without a concomitant increase in quinolinic acid may provide a useful approach for studying the role of these electrophysiologically active tryptophan metabolites in brain function and preventing the possible toxic actions of abnormal synthesis of quinolinic acid.