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Greenlandic fjords, located between the ice sheet and the ocean, are dynamic systems that can sustain highly variable levels of primary productivity and are sensitive to climate change. In our current climate trajectory, meltwater discharge is expected to significantly increase but its long‐term effects on fjord productivity are still poorly constrained. Paleo‐archives can offer valuable insights into long‐term effects. Here, we present two marine sediment core records from Nuup Kangerlua, Southwest Greenland. Our goal is to better understand to what extent, and on what time‐scales, climate fluctuations and associated glacier dynamic changes have impacted fjord productivity over the past ca. 3300 years. Our multiproxy records include diatom fluxes and assemblage composition, sediment biogeochemistry, and grain‐size distribution. Our study reveals that fjord productivity is tightly linked to regional climate variability; relatively higher productivity levels coincided with mild climate periods whereas the climate cooling of the last millennium led to a decrease in productivity. The diatom records suggest that lower productivity is associated with shorter or less intense summer blooms, increased sea‐ice cover and/or a stratified water column. Diatom assemblages demonstrate cold sea‐surface conditions around 1600 CE that might be linked to local advance of glaciers. Cold conditions and decreasing productivity culminated at 1850 CE, when glaciers in the fjord retreated and high glacial meltwater discharge would have altered the fjord hydrography, likely leading to limited nutrient availability. Our long‐term records support the idea that changing climate and cryosphere conditions have a non‐linear impact on the productivity of Greenlandic fjords. Key Points: Diatom assemblages record multiannual to multidecadal changes in the timing, magnitude, and composition of phytoplankton bloomsFjord productivity is linked to climate variability and to associated changes in marine‐terminating glaciersHigher fjord productivity coincided with warmer climate periods while the lowest productivity was recorded at the end of the Little Ice Age [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a letter that reported an increase in sudden cardiac death (SCD) and survived sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) among athletes in 2021. However, the author of the article examined the database cited in the letter and found that it did not support the claim. The author argues that a more appropriate comparison can be made by focusing on cases of SCA and SCD among elite footballers, as this subject has been extensively studied. The author identified 10 cases of SCA and SCD among elite footballers in 2021, which is not statistically significant. The article also mentions potential causes for the increase, such as postponed cases from 2020 and myocarditis induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection or mRNA vaccination. The author encourages further research on the topic. [Extracted from the article]

A letter published in Health Science Reports discusses the effectiveness of Japan's early countermeasures against the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter argues that the countermeasures failed, but this conclusion is questionable. Data on all-cause mortality suggests that Japan's countermeasures were among the most effective worldwide, with a significant mortality deficit in 2020. Despite this, deaths from all causes began to rise in 2021, attributed to COVID-19, cardiovascular disease, senility, and other causes. The increase in cases and deaths cannot be attributed to the Tokyo Summer Olympics. Overall, Japan's response to COVID-19 appears to have been effective in 2020. [Extracted from the article]

In today's business environment, digitalization plays a key role in establishing competitive advantage and developing new business models. However, little is known about business model innovation (BMI) processes and practices of small and medium‐sized enterprise (SMEs) in their digital venturing. Thus, the aim of this paper is to address this research gap by investigating the process activities of SMEs in effectively building new business models through digitalization. Through a case study of 18 SMEs, document studies and 36 interviews, we explore the BMI processes during the case companies' digital transformation. The research results identify four critical BMI process activities: (1) assessing the environment in search of new opportunities, (2) conveying a sense of urgency, (3) exploring and testing new opportunities through experimentation and (4) handling decision‐making with a combination of intuition and data. Finally, our study reveals managerial implications related to data‐driven decision‐making during BMI, constituting four managerial dilemmas: (1) prognosis and scenario‐driven search myopia, (2) timing and sustainability, (3) radical shift from traditional experimentation to data‐based methods and (4) using intuition versus data‐driven decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the idea of exemplarity in relation to educational research and teacher education. Exemplarity is introduced as an alternative to the paradigm of evidence and 'what works', which seems to be omnipresent in educational research at present. The idea of exemplarity relates to the particularity of educational practice. The claim of this article is that we need to skew the dominance of functionalistic studies of education, which focus on skills and solutions to problems, or on providing quick fixes and methods to be applied in practice. I will argue that this tactic shuts down interpretive spaces and gives the teacher an illusion of simplicity and efficacy that connects poorly with the complexities of pedagogical practice. Exemplarity provides a different way of answering the question of 'what works', since it does not claim generalisability, but instead offers a path to reflective engagement with the complexities of educational processes. The idea of exemplarity highlights how educators can be invited to lend an ear to practical experience and pedagogical theorising, and through these develop their tact and reflective abilities through exemplars that display pedagogical principles. This, in turn, offers the possibility of retuning one's practice, and in the scope of this article, retuning educational research itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research examining the effectiveness of international joint ventures (IJVs) has focused on differences in the backgrounds and bargaining power of IJV parent firms, while little attention has been given to the IJV itself. This study takes a different perspective by examining the relationship between IJV parent firms and the IJV. Specifically, we examine how IJV and parent involvement in strategic decision-making influences the IJV management team's commitment to the IJV and to the parent firms. We hypothesize that the IJV management team tends to be more committed to the IJV than to the parent firms, and that there is a strong positive relationship between procedural justice, strategic decision control, and organizational commitment. A field study involving 51 IJVs supported our hypotheses. We discuss the implications of organizational commitment and procedural justice for managing IJVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, Morten Korsgaard and Mathias Aldinger examine the educational thinking of Hannah Arendt and accompany their analysis with an educational reading of Søren Kierkegaard's "The Seducer's Diary." The authors argue that their readings of Arendt and Kierkegaard point us to a pitfall in how we often approach the educational process: expecting the generation that is coming of age to satisfy the desires of the older generation. This expectation, which pervades present educational reform efforts, undercuts the possibility of education for (existential) freedom and, indeed, serves to manipulate the young into adopting the ideals and desires of the older generation. Reading "The Seducer's Diary" educationally allows us to interpret Johannes as a (mis)educator of Cordelia in the mold of the progressive and instrumental educators that Arendt critiques in "The Crisis in Education." In this way, Arendt and Kierkegaard alert us to the perennial paradox of educating for freedom without attempting to determine how this freedom is to be lived out and thus undermining the endeavor in advance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the project seven standard operating procedures (SOP) were developed for the four data domains (zoonoses, chemical contaminant, pesticide residues and veterinary medical products residues). The SOPs describe 1) How the national governance of risk assessment data is organised, 2) how data are collected and validated before delivering to EFSA covering all four domains, 3) How data is transferred to EFSA, 4) how to respond to EFSA request for clarification, update and confirmation of data, and 5) how to respond to EFSA request for additional data including PAD requests. Ten enhancements have been developed and implemented in the national reporting system to improve the process of collating and validating data before uploading data to the EFSA DCF. These developments improve the data quality and ensure a higher consistency on the metadata information provided with a data line. The project also included the development of data quality objectives for the four domains. This development was a facilitated by EFSA and carried out as 12 teleconferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single bout of high-intensity exercise can augment off-line gains in skills acquired during motor practice. It is currently unknown if the type of physical exercise influences the effect on motor skill consolidation. This study investigated the effect of three types of high-intensity exercise following visuomotor skill acquisition on the retention of motor memory in 40 young (25.3 ±3.6 years), able-bodied male participants randomly assigned to one of four groups either performing strength training ( STR), circuit training ( CT), indoor hockey ( HOC) or rest ( CON). Retention tests of the motor skill were performed 1 (R1h) and 24 h (R1d) post acquisition. For all exercise groups, mean motor performance scores decreased at R1h compared to post acquisition ( POST) level; STR ( P = 0.018), CT ( P = 0.02), HOC ( P = 0.014) and performance scores decreased for CT compared to CON ( P = 0.049). Mean performance scores increased from POST to R1d for all exercise groups; STR ( P = 0.010), CT ( P = 0.020), HOC ( P = 0.007) while performance scores for CON decreased ( P = 0.043). Changes in motor performance were thus greater for STR ( P = 0.006), CT ( P < 0.001) and HOC ( P < 0.001) compared to CON from POST to R1d. The results demonstrate that high-intensity, acute exercise can lead to a decrease in motor performance assessed shortly after motor skill practice (R1h), but enhances offline effects promoting long-term retention (R1d). Given that different exercise modalities produced similar positive off-line effects on motor memory, we conclude that exercise-induced effects beneficial to consolidation appear to depend primarily on the physiological stimulus rather than type of exercise and movements employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this questionnaire was to investigate how glaucoma patients relate to preservatives in eyedrops and the impact on their quality of life and eye discomfort. Methods: This study was designed as a questionnaire‐based cross‐sectional study. Inclusion criteria included the use of IOP‐lowering eyedrops, age ≥ 18, and the ability to read and understand Danish. Questionnaires with inadequate replies or self‐rated compliance ≤60% were excluded. Participants were classified into two groups: participants using only preservative‐free eyedrops (PF) and participants using preservative‐containing (PC) – including individuals using a combination of both types of eyedrops. A total of 146 questionnaires were included. These were further divided into 3 groups depending on complete data: questionnaires with complete data in the Glaucoma Symptom Scale (GSS) (133/146), the Glaucoma Quality of Life‐15 (GQL‐15) (135/146), and eye discomfort data (140/146). Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the groups concerning the total GSS score (PC: 66.16 ± 21.49 vs. PF: 67.55 ± 21.77; p > 0.05), the total GQL‐15 score (PC 30.31 ± 15.13 vs. 31.33 ± 16.80; p > 0.05), or the total eye discomfort score (PC/PF OR; 0.90, 95% CI; 0.66–1.21, p > 0.05). Moreover, we found that the majority of the participants in the PC group were unaware of the preservative status of their eyedrops (PC; 74%), as well as the possibility to avoid preservatives (PC; 67%), by using a preservative‐free alternative. Similarly, most participants of both groups were willing to pay more for preservative‐free eyedrops (PC; 83%, PF; 93%). Conclusions: No significant difference in GSS, GQL‐15 or eye discomfort was observed between persons treated with PC and PF. A severe lack of information was however observed regarding patient awareness of the preservative status of IOP‐lowering eyedrops, as well as a willingness to pay more to avoid preservatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The replication of functional polymeric micro- and nanostructures requires a deep understanding of material and process interrelations. In this investigation the dewetting potential of a polymer is proposed as a simple rationale for estimation of the replicability of functional micro- and nanostructures by injection molding. The dewetting potential of a polymer is determined by integrating the spreading coefficient over the range from melt temperature to no-flow temperature. From all polymers tested, the lowest dewetting potential is calculated for PP and the highest for polymethylmethacrylate. The dewetting potential correlates well with the replicated height of four different structures covering both the micro- and the nanorange on two different surfaces (brass and fluorocarbon modified nickel) and polymers with different spreading coefficients. It is clearly shown that a lower dewetting potential of a polymer leads to a better replication accuracy. Additionally a parabolic relationship is demonstrated between filled height and structure width. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Denmark offers COPD rehabilitation to enable patients to tackle the consequences of COPD, but only a minority of the patients complete these programs. To increase the completion rate, an follow-up study was performed, to characterize COPD patients and to identify potential differences between those who complete and those who do not complete rehabilitation or do not even get a rehabilitation offer in daily clinical routine. Methods: In- and out COPD-patients who participated in baseline tests were compared in terms of completion of rehabilitation, drop-out, and no rehabilitation offer. We obtained data on basic characteristics, co-morbidity, lung-function (FEV1), dyspnea (MRC), six-minute walkg-distance (6MWD), and quality of life (SF36). Results: The source population counted 521 COPD patients of whom 256 were excluded (diagnosis withdrawn, death, moved away, long-term oxygen, severe illness). Patients who completed rehabilitation had a 15% longer 6MWD than patients not offered rehabilitation and a 10% longer 6MWD than drop-outs despite a significant lower subjective perception of physical function among completers than in the two other groups. Patients not offered rehabilitation had a slightly better lung function than the other two groups. This suggests that lower physical performance with the same (drop-outs) or even higher (not offered) lung function indicates a lower chance of completion. Conclusion: COPD patients who could potentially benefit most from completing rehabilitation seem to be deselected. A mere 9% completed rehabilitation within the study period and 23% ever completed. This demonstrates that the political target that 60% of COPD patients should be offered rehabilitation is still far away. Please cite this paper as: Bjoernshave B, Korsgaard J, Jensen C and Nielsen CV. Participation in pulmonary rehabilitation in routine clinical practice. Clin Respir J 2011; 5: 235-244. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this field study of 327 nonfaculty university professionals was to examine the joint relationship of conscientiousness and context on two dependent variables: motivation and participation in voluntary training systems. Drawing on the principles of person-by-situation theories of personality, this study examined how the relationship between conscientiousness and training is moderated by social cues and managerial status. The findings from a field study indicated that the relationship between conscientiousness and motivation to learn was moderated by the favorableness of social cues from coworkers and supervisors. Results also indicated the relationship between conscientiousness and training participation was moderated by managerial status. The findings bolster research on the importance of situational factors on the decision to participate in voluntary training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In response to Arroyo, I explain my position on the concept of "natural goodness" and how my use of that concept compares to that of Geach and Foot. An Aristotelian or functional notion of goodness provides the material for Kantian endorsement in a theory of value that avoids a metaphysical commitment to intrinsic values. In response to Cummiskey, I review reasons for thinking Kantianism and consequentialism incompatible, especially those objections to aggregation that arise from the notion of the natural good previously described. In response to Moland, I explain why I think Hegelian worries about the supposed emptiness of the Kantian self do not apply to my account. And in response to both Moland and Bird‐Pollan, I argue that, contrary to the view of some Hegelians, the intersubjective normativity of reason is not something developed through actual social relations; rather, it is something essential to an individual's relations with himself or herself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the effects of exposure to the xenoestrogen octyiphenol and subsequent transfer to clean water on liver and gonad ultrastructure in the early development of Zoarces viviparus embryos. It states that female eelpouts or Zoarces viviparus L. are exposed to nominal concentrations of octyiphenol. It notes that the effects on maternal and on liver and gonad development in embryos were examined and compared with controls (C) during exposure and after transfer to clean water (depuration). It indicates that there is higher concentrations of plasma vitellogenin (vtg) and calcium in the two groups exposed of the mother fish, compared with the C group after exposure and depuration.

Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) enables fitting complex hierarchical models that may adequately reflect the process of data generation. Some of these models may contain more parameters than can be uniquely inferred from the distribution of the data, causing non-identifiability. The reaction norm model with unknown covariates (RNUC) is a model in which unknown environmental effects can be inferred jointly with the remaining parameters. The problem of identifiability of parameters at the level of the likelihood and the associated behaviour of MCMC chains were discussed using the RNUC as an example. It was shown theoretically that when environmental effects (covariates) are considered as random effects, estimable functions of the fixed effects, (co)variance components and genetic effects are identifiable as well as the environmental effects. When the environmental effects are treated as fixed and there are other fixed factors in the model, the contrasts involving environmental effects, the variance of environmental sensitivities (genetic slopes) and the residual variance are the only identifiable parameters. These different identifiability scenarios were generated by changing the formulation of the model and the structure of the data and the models were then implemented via MCMC. The output of MCMC sampling schemes was interpreted in the light of the theoretical findings. The erratic behaviour of the MCMC chains was shown to be associated with identifiability problems in the likelihood, despite propriety of posterior distributions, achieved by arbitrarily chosen uniform (bounded) priors. In some cases, very long chains were needed before the pattern of behaviour of the chain may signal the existence of problems. The paper serves as a warning concerning the implementation of complex models where identifiability problems can be difficult to detect a priori. We conclude that it would be good practice to experiment with a proposed model and to understand its features before embarking on a full MCMC implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN • During recent years some opioids have been associated with prolonged QT and torsade de pointes (TdP). • In vitro testing has shown that most opioids can block the cardiac potassium channels. • This indicates that QT prolongation and TdP could be a more general problem associated with the use of these drugs. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS • This study is the first to show that oxycodone dose is associated with QT prolongation and in vitro blockade of hERG channels expressed in HEK293. • Neither morphine nor tramadol doses are associated with the QT interval length. AIMS During recent years some opioids have been associated with prolonged QT interval and torsade de pointes (TdP). In vitro patch clamp testing has shown that most opioids can block human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) channels that are known to underlie cardiac repolarizing IKr current. This indicates that QT prolongation and TdP could be a more general problem associated with the use of these drugs. The aims of this study were to evaluate the association between different opioids and the QTc among patients and measure hERG activity under influence by opioids in vitro. METHODS One hundred chronic nonmalignant pain patients treated with methadone, oxycodone, morphine or tramadol were recruited in a cross-sectional study. The QTc was estimated from a 12-lead ECG. To examine hERG activity in the presence of oxycodone, electrophysiological testing was conducted using Xenopus laevis oocytes and HEK293 cells expressing hERG channels. RESULTS There were no differences in gender distribution or age between the treatment groups. The known association between methadone dose and QTc was confirmed ( R2 = 0.09; P = 0.02). Higher oxycodone dose was also associated with longer QTc ( R2 = 0.21; P = 0.02). A 100 mg higher oxycodone dose was associated with a 10 ms1/2 (95% CI 2–19) longer QTc. Neither morphine nor tramadol dose was associated with the QTc. Electrophysiological testing revealed low-affinity inhibition of the potassium current through hERG channels expressed in HEK293 cells (IC50 = 171 µM oxycodone). CONCLUSIONS Among patients treated with methadone or oxycodone, higher doses were associated with longer QTc. Oxycodone is capable of inhibiting hERG channels in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, we report a simple approach for creating a nanocrystalline layer on the surface of stone wool fibers (SWFs) with a basalt-like composition. The approach is based on a preoxidation process of the SWFs in atmospheric air at a temperature around the glass transition temperature ( Tg) for various durations. During preoxidation, the network-modifying ions diffuse from the interior toward the surface of SWFs and react with oxygen on the surface to form oxides. This diffusion process is accompanied by an inward diffusion of electron holes via the oxidation process of Fe2+ to Fe3+. It is found that the diffusion of Mg2+ is dominant in the overall diffusion process. The main phase of the nanocrystalline layer is identified to be periclase (MgO) crystals. The thickness of the nanocrystalline layer can be varied by adjusting the temperature and the duration of preoxidation. The nanocrystalline layer plays a significant role in enhancing the high-temperature stability of the SWFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensitivity of juvenile brown trout towards estrogenic chemicals (17β-estradiol [E2], estrone [E1], 17α-ethinylestradiol [EE2], 4-tert-octylphenol [OP], and n-butylparaben [BP]) was tested in laboratory experiments with plasma and liver vitellogenin concentrations as endpoints. Vitellogenin concentrations were also assessed in juvenile brown trout collected in streams affected by agricultural runoff and discharges from scattered houses in the open land. In the laboratory, juvenile brown trout were exposed to the chemicals in flow-through tanks for 7 to 12 d and concentration-response relationships for the induction of vitellogenin synthesis were obtained. The actual exposure concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The median plasma vitellogenin concentration in first year control brown trout reared in recirculated groundwater was 165 ng/ml with 783 ng/ml as the highest value. The median effective concentration (EC50) values for vitellogenin induction (based on plasma concentrations) were 3.7 ng EE2/L, 15 ng E2/L, 88 ng E1/L, 68 µg BP/L, and 7 µg OP/L. Median effective concentrations derived from liver vitellogenin concentrations were similar. The 166 brown trout caught in the field were mainly first and second year fish and a few third year fish. Plasma vitellogenin concentrations were below 1,000 ng/L in 146 of the fish, between 1,000 ng/L and 4,234 ng/L in 19 fish and 5.3 × 106 ng/L in one male fish. Vitellogenin concentrations did not differ between first and second year fish, but were elevated in third year fish. The data may indicate that juvenile (<2 years) trout with plasma vitellogenin concentrations above 1,000 ng/ml have had their vitellogenin synthesis induced by exposure to estrogens in the environment. Plasma and liver vitellogenin concentrations were closely correlated in brown trout with elevated vitellogenin concentrations. It is noteworthy, however, that exposure to synthetic estrogens (EE2, BP, and OP) resulted in higher liver concentrations (for the same plasma concentration) than exposure to the natural estrogens E1 and E2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws on social exchange theory and the theory of other orientation to examine how job satisfaction and individual differences are related to organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Previous research specifying a direct effect for individual differences on OCB has yielded disappointing results. In contrast, this study examines the moderating role of individual differences in the relationship between job satisfaction and OCB. As hypothesized, results show a weaker relationship between job satisfaction and OCB for persons who are higher in other orientation. We discuss the theoretical implications of this finding and directions for future research. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the colonisation rate and type in different groups of patients with chronic lung diseases, bronchial lavage (BL) fluid was investigated for bacteria. Methods: All patients underwent fibre-optic bronchoscopy as part of routine investigation for remote haemoptysis or nodule investigation. The standard procedure included BL and microbiological culture providing the total number of colony forming units (cfu)/mL and the number of potential pathogenic bacteria (ppb)/mL. Three groups of patients were included: 48 persons had a final diagnosis of no pathology, 53 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a stable phase and 32 patients with a final diagnosis of bronchiectasis. Results: The median number of cfu cultured from patients with bronchiectasis was 105 cfu/mL compared to 5 103 cfu/mL in patients with COPD and 104 cfu/mL in persons with no pathology. The ppb colonisation rate varied from 10% in persons with no pathology to 43% in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 63% in patients with bronchiectasis. The most frequent bacteria isolated was Haemophilus influenzae. Colonisation rates were associated with frequencies of respiratory infections; patients with bronchiectasis reported a median of three infections per year, patients with COPD reported one infection per year, and persons without pathology reported 0 infections per year ( P < 0.05). Within each group a large patient-to-patient variation was found. Conclusions: Different groups of patients with chronic pulmonary diseases have very different colonisation rates. Patients with bronchiectasis have the highest colonisation rate. This correlates to the reported frequency of lower respiratory tract infections. Please cite this paper as: Weinreich UM and Korsgaard J. Bacterial colonisation of lower airways in health and chronic lung disease. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2008; 2: 116–122. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estrogenic effect of orally administered bisphenol A (BPA) was investigated in a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) test system. Bisphenol A was administered orally to sexually immature rainbow trout every second day for up to 12 d in doses between 1.8 and 258 mg/kg every second day (/2d). Plasma vitellogenin was measured before and during the exposures, and the concentrations of BPA in plasma, liver, and muscle and the plasma concentrations of BPA glucuronic acid (BPAGA) were determined at the end of the experiments. Increases in average plasma vitellogenin levels were seen at oral exposure to 24 mg BPA/kg/2d; the most sensitive fish responded to 9.3 mg/kg/2d. At day 12, the 10, 50, and 90% effective doses for increase in vitellogenin synthesis were 13, 19, and 25 mg/kg/2d, respectively. Bisphenol A could be detected in liver, muscle, and plasma at the end of the exposure, generally in increasing concentrations with increasing doses; liver concentrations generally were higher than muscle concentrations. Four to five hours after the last feeding of doses between 3.6 and 24 mg BPA/kg, plasma BPA concentrations ranged between 400 and 1,200 nM, whereas BPAGA concentrations were between 2- and 10-fold higher. The difference between BPA and BPAGA concentrations increased with increasing BPA dose. Bisphenol A showed little tendency to bioaccumulate in rainbow trout; less than 1% of the total amount of BPA administered orally at doses between 1.8 and 258 mg/ kg/2d over the 10- or 12-d experimental period was retained in muscle and liver at 5 or 24 h after the end of the experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mice selected for weight gain from 3 to 9 weeks of age on a normal (N) protein diet containing 19.3% protein and a reduced (R) protein diet with 5.1% protein were reared on both diets in generations 7 and 9. The lines NH, NC, NL, RH, RC and RL (H, high; C, control; L, low) were tested for weight gain on diet N and R and for feed intake and feed efficiency on diet N in generation 7. In generation 9, the lines were tested for body composition traits (fat, protein and water percentage) at 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks of age on both diets. A significant (p < 0.0001) genotype × environment interaction for growth rate was observed in generation 7. Weight gain at both the protein levels was best improved by selection at the protein level itself. Furthermore, the ranking of the lines on diet N was similar for weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency. In generation 9 at 9 weeks of age, the ranking of the lines for fat percentage was equal to the ranking for weight gain in generation 7 on both test-diets. The association between weight gain and protein or water percentage was less pronounced, particularly on diet R. These results suggest that the largest genetic improvement in growth rate is obtained when the protein content of the feed is the same in selection and production. However, when selection is carried out in one environment while the animals have to perform under conditions with varying nutrient protein contents, selection in an inferior environment may be advantageous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The primary prognostic factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) is stage. Any association between symptoms, diagnostic delay and stage may have implications for the clinical course of the disease. We examined the association between symptoms and diagnostic delay and between symptoms and stage, and assessed whether the associations differed for colon cancer (CC) and rectal cancer (RC). Patients and methods Population-based prospective observational study based on 733 Danish CRC patients. Diagnostic delay and patients’ reported symptoms were determined through questionnaire–interviews. Dukes’ stage was obtained from medical records and pathology forms. Diagnostic delay was categorized into three delay groups: ≤ 60, 61–150 and > 150 days. Stage was classified into nonadvanced (Dukes’ A and B) or advanced (Dukes’ C and D) cancers. We calculated the frequency of the most frequently reported initial symptom or symptom complex for CC and RC patients, and evaluated the frequency of patients with different initial symptoms/symptom complexes in the three delay groups. For the most frequent initial symptoms/symptom complexes, we calculated the frequencies according to stage, and estimated the relative risk of having an advanced stage, with 95% confidence intervals. Results The most frequent initial symptoms/symptom complexes were very vague symptoms for CC and rectal bleeding for RC. For both CC and RC, rectal bleeding was significantly associated with nonadvanced stage. The relative risk of having an advanced cancer was 0.6 for monosymptomatic rectal bleeding and 0.7 for rectal bleeding combined with other symptoms. Conclusions Initial symptoms of CC were often very vague, making it difficult to identify a precise start date. The most frequent initial symptom/symptom complex for RC – rectal bleeding – was better defined. Rectal bleeding was significantly associated with nonadvanced CC and RC and a significantly decreased relative risk of having an advanced cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimated indoor climate conditions in unheated summer cottages offers house-dust mites unfavorable temperature and feeding conditions while giving them optimum humidity conditions. We aimed to estimate the exposure level of house-dust mites in summer cottages. A total of 37 summer cottages were sampled for house dust and storage mites in three locations and the results compared with samples from 33 patients suspected of house-dust mite allergy and living in ordinary houses. The processed dust samples were investigated by microscopy and exposure levels given as number of mites per 0.1 g dust. The summer cottages were without exception all heavily infested with threefold or higher concentrations of both house dust and storage mites in comparison with ordinary houses. In unheated summer cottages were found tropical high concentrations of house dust and storage mites with a median concentration of house-dust mites in mattress dust of 2000 house-dust mites/g of dust which corresponds to an average of 40 μg allergen/g of mattress dust. As a probable consequence of high indoor air humidity conditions in unheated summer cottages in winter, dust samples contained threefold or higher concentrations of house dust and storage mites. Indoor humidity conditions thus more than compensated for lack of continuous supply of skin scales from human beings and an unfavorable low indoor air temperature. The uniform high mite exposure in summer cottages is likely to imply disease deterioration in patients already allergic to mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employees generally rate their performance more favorably than do their supervisors, which can lead to conflict and poor job performance. However, comparative international research indicates that persons from other-oriented collectivist cultures are less self-enhancing, suggesting that other-oriented employees will exhibit greater agreement with ratings provided by their supervisors. We examined the effect of subordinates' other orientation on self-supervisor performance rating agreement. Consistent with cultural expectations, self-ratings of other-oriented subordinates showed greater agreement with ratings provided by their supervisors and less leniency relative to their supervisors' evaluations. These findings have implications for understanding how employees in different professions, organizations, and cultures utilize feedback from their supervisors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A birth cohort, comprising 4089 children, was followed. Information on exposures was obtained shortly after birth, and episodes of wheezing were recorded when the infants were 1 and 2 y of age. In a nested case-control study, 181 infants were enrolled, who had three or more reported episodes of wheezing after 3 mo of age combined with either use of inhaled steroids or symptoms of bronchial hyper-reactivity, and 359 age-matched controls. Home inspections were performed during the winter following enrolment, and indoor conditions were measured. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The OR for recurrent infant wheezing associated with signs of dampness reported prospectively by parents was 1.4 (0.9–2.2), and the OR for observed signs of dampness at home inspections was 1.6 (1.0–2.5). A trend was found in the risk of recurrent wheezing in relation to the number of indicators of dampness: OR 1.3 (0.8–2.2) for one sign of dampness and OR 2.7 (1.3–5.4) for three or more signs of dampness. Newly painted surfaces in the child's bedroom was associated with an increased OR for recurrent wheezing: 1.7 (1.3–2.6). Indicators of dampness, as well as recently repainted interior surfaces, appear to be associated with recurrent infant wheezing, with a strengthened effect of combined indoor exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical UV-filters am used in sun protection products and various kinds of cosmetics. The lipophilic chemical UV-filter 3-benzylidene camphor was investigated for its capability to cause vitellogenin induction, possibly via oestrogen receptor binding, in a well-established in vivo fish assay (juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, vitellogenin ELISA). A clear relationship was demonstrated between the dose of injected 3-benzylidene camphor and the concentration of plasma vitellogenin with a 10[sup 5]-times induction from 68 mg 3-benzylidene camphor/kg/injection and above compared to the control vitellogenin level. The relationship between the injected dose of 3-benzylidene camphor and the pement of responding fish (vitellogenin) was evaluated by logistic regression analysis and effective dose-values (ED-values) were determined. ED[sub 10], ED[sub 50] and ED[sub 90] of 3-benzylidene camphor after 6 days (2 injections) were 6.4, 16 and 26 mg/kg/ injection, respectively. These ED-values place 3-benzylidene camphor among the more potent xenooestrogens discovered to date and necessitates investigations on the distribution, concentration, persistence and bioaccumulation of 3-benzylidene camphor and other UV-filters in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitellogenin induction in rainbow trout after intraperitoneal injection of test compounds was investigated. Vitellogenin quantification was performed by a direct sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) based on polyclonal, affinity purified antibodies. The system was used as a short-term in vivo screen for estrogenicity and as a tool for establishing the priority of compounds to be tested by water exposure of fish. Representatives from the group of xenoestrogens, bisphenols, phthalates, and pesticides were tested. The relative potency order bisphenol A > bisphenol A dimethacrylate, o,p′-DDT > butylbenzylphthalate was established, while no significant vitellogenin response was seen with dibutylphthalate, tetrabromobisphenol A, and methoxychlor. Of these, tetrabromobisphenol A has not previously been tested for estrogenicity in vivo. Earlier findings of diminished estrogenic activity of ortho-substituted compounds was extended to bisphenols since ortho-bromination of bisphenol A abolished the activity of the parent molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether window pane condensation and indoor vapour contribution ≥ 3 g/m3 could be used as indicators of defective air change rate, high indoor humidity and high mite allergen concentration in mattress dust. Methods Actual ventilation rate, indoor temperature, air humidity (AIH/RH) and concentrations of mite allergen were measured in 59 houses and compared with received outdoor temperatures and air humidity. Indoor vapour contribution defined as the difference between the indoor and the outdoor vapour concentration was calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and accuracy were calculated for window pane condensation and high vapour contribution (≥ 3 g/m3), as indicators of defective ventilation (< 0.5 ACH), high indoor humidity (≥ 7 g/kg and ≥ 45% RH) and high mite allergen concentration in mattress dust (≥ 2 μg/g). Results All houses with high humidity and high mite allergen concentrations were positive for the two indicators (high sensitivity), but with a specificity of only 50% so that half of the houses with reported condensation and high vapour contribution turned out to be low pollution houses with adequate high ventilation levels. Both indicators had high negative predictive values and absence of the two indicators almost certainly (97–100%) excluded high indoor pollution with high humidity and high mite concentrations. Overall more than 70% of the dwellings were correctly classified by the two indicators. Conclusion Absence of window pane condensation on double-glazed windows and low indoor vapour contribution (< 3 g/m3) during the winter are true markers of a dwelling without high indoor air humidity and without high mite allergen concentrations in mattress dust in houses in a cold temperate climate with subzero outdoor temperatures. The presence of the two indicators is associated with a 18–45% risk of high... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widely used phenolic preservatives ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and their common metabolite p-hydroxybenzoic acid were tested for their ability to evoke an oestrogenic response in vivo. Yolk protein induction in sexually immature rainbow trout was used as an oestrogen-specific endpoint after repeated injections of the compounds. All tested parabens were oestrogenic in doses between 100 and 300 mg/kg, while the metabolite showed no activity. Ethylparaben was found to be approximately sixty times weaker than propyl- and butylparaben which had oestrogenic potencies comparable to those previously found for bisphenol A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased exposure to house-dust mites entails a greatly increased frequency of sensitization and increased frequency of mite asthma in the population. The available case-control studies demonstrate large variations worldwide in sensitization and disease risk dependent on the actual level of population exposure. In areas with comparatively tow population exposure to house-dust mites, there is a strong association between exposure and effect, while other areas with a more or less uniformly high population exposure do not demonstrate significant differences between patients and controls because the unexposed groups are too small. As to the existence of a hygienic maximum threshold exposure level, current data all point to a single value of 100 mites/g of dust, corresponding to 2 μg allergen/g of dust. This applies to the risk of sensitization and risk of disease, and when programs of prevention imply exposure below this value, convincing clinical improvement is always observed. Today, the magnitude of the health problem related to population exposure to house-dust mites in many areas is comparable to the effects of active tobacco smoking and traffic accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Available epidemiologic data on the occurrence of houte-dust mites in dwellings demonstrates a clear association between increased indoor air humidity and the increased occurrence of house-dust mites in house dust. Furthermore, in temperate climates, there is a threshold level of indoor air humidity of 7 g/kg (45% relative humidity at usual indoor air temperatures). Indoor air humidities below this level for extended periods will eradicate house-dust mites from dwellings. A reduction in inhabitant exposure to house-dust mites is implemented by reduction of indoor air humidity by controlled mechanical ventilation. Individual ventilation levels are estimated from the actual size of house, number of inhabitants, and average outdoor air humidity in winter. In contrast, more humid areas of the world with average outdoor humidities above 6–7 g/kg in winter will support uniformly large populations of house-dust mites, and reductions in indoor air humidity will have a comparatively minor effect on the occurrence of house-dust mites. Present-day building of energy-efficient houses with increased sealing of the building envelope, paralleled by a similar renovation of older houses, has increased indoor air humidity and is probably the cause of the almost fourfold increase in the occurrence of house-dust mites in Danish dwellings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT. In this paper the additive genetic gamma frailty model is defined. Individual frailties are correlated as a result of an additive genetic model. An algorithm to construct additive genetic gamma frailties for any pedigree is given so that the variance-covariance structure among individual frailties equals the numerator relationship matrix times a variance. The EM algorithm can be used to estimate the parameters in the model. Calculations are similar using the EM algorithm in the shared frailty model, however the E step is not correspondingly simple. This is illustrated re-analysing data, analysed by the shared frailty model in Nielsen et al. (1992), from the Danish adoptive register(*). Goodness of fit of the additive genetic gamma frailty model can be tested after analysing data with the correlated frailty model. Doing so, a "defect" in the often used and otherwise well behaving likelihood was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitization to house dust mites, storage mites and other common inhalation allergens was studied in 144 farmers using SPT and RAST. The study population was selected from a random sample of 808 farmers and consisted of 47 persons who had declared themselves to suffer from asthma, 63 persons who had reported respiratory symptoms, and 34 healthy persons without respiratory symptoms. The most prevalent RAST was towards storage mites and was found in 17% of farmers who suffered from asthma and was estimated to occur in 5% of the random sample of farmers. A positive RAST to house dust mites was found in 17% of farmers who reported to suffer from asthma. Sensitization to pollens, animal dander and grain species was rare. A positive RAST to moulds was not found. There was a strong association between a positive RAST to house dust mites and a positive RAST to storage mites (odds ratio 21.0). A positive RAST to storage mites was significantly associated with living in a dwelling in the past which was recalled as damp (odds ratio 4.9). A high number of house dust mites was found in nearly all dwellings (median count 10,8 mites/0.1 g dust) and a high number of storage mites was found in some dwellings. This study suggests that in humid and temperate regions of Europe, allergy to storage mites in farmers is not caused exclusively by occupational exposure but damp housing conditions and indoor exposure to storage mites may also be important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study concerned the joint effects of the richness of the feedback environment and task complexity on the development of goals, information search strategies, and performance improvement. A decision-making experiment found interactive effects of feedback and complexity on the number of personal goals, information search, and performance improvement. Further, goals and information search mediated the effect of feedback and complexity on performance over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the usefulness of self-appraisal (SA) as a technique designed to enhance the motivational and developmental impact of feedback from others. Drawing from research on self-enhancement and self-consistency motives, it was hypothesized that individuals would agree with and incorporate feedback that is consistent with their SA, whereas they would be more satisfied and perform better if feedback is more favorable than their SA. A field study was conducted with 122 MBA students as participants. On average, students were 25 years old and had 1.8 years of work experience. Seventy per cent of students were male and 82 per cent were white. The findings supported all of the hypotheses except the hypothesis concerning satisfaction. Implications for improving the impact of performance appraisal feedback are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance evaluation based on self-appraisal has been widely advocated because of its potential for increasing the effectiveness of the performance appraisal discussion. A field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of a formal 'both-rate' self appraisal (where both manager and subordinate independently complete appraisals before the discussion) on perceptions of ratee and rater behaviors and outcomes. One hundred fifty-one ratees and 81 raters randomly assigned to self-appraisal and control groups participated in the study. Results indicated that the self-appraisal treatment had no main effects on ratee perceptions of their contributions to the discussion or satisfaction with the appraisal. Self-appraising ratees perceived less influence over the appraisal discussion, and less agreement with their manager's rating than did non-self appraisers. However, informal self-appraisal behavior was significantly and positively correlated with most dependent variables. Results suggest major differences between formal and informal self-appraisal which warrant future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of sealing the occlusal fissures of permanent first molars was studied in a group of patients 6-9 yr of age receiving a high standard of prophylactic care. Very soon after the eruption one of the teeth in a homomaxillary pair was sealed, and the contralateral was used for control. The control teeth were painted with a fluoride varnish (Duraphat) every 6 months during the trial. 210 sites in 121 children were sealed and followed for a mean observation period of 23 months. At the end of the study, the retention rate was 62.9%, the percentage of effectiveness 24.2 %, and the net gain 7.1%. The dmft index (primary molars and canines) was recorded for each patient at the time sealing was performed. A relationship between the caries prevalence in the primary teeth and the susceptibility for fissure caries in the control teeth was found. Effectiveness and net gain was highest in the group of children with 3-6 draft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]