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Objective: To determine whether World Trade Center (WTC)‐exposure intensity and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with subjective cognitive change in rescue/recovery workers. Method: The population included 7875 rescue/recovery workers who completed a subjective cognition measure, the Cognitive Function Instrument (CFI), between 3/1/2018 and 2/28/2019 during routine monitoring, indicating whether they had experienced cognitive and functional difficulties in the past year. Higher scores indicated greater self‐perceived cognitive change. Probable PTSD, depression, and alcohol abuse were evaluated by validated mental health screeners. Logistic regression assessed the associations of WTC exposure and current PTSD with top‐quartile (≥2) CFI score, and of early post‐9/11 PTSD with top‐quartile CFI in a subpopulation (N = 6440). Models included demographics, smoking, depression, and alcohol abuse as covariates. Results: Mean age at CFI completion was 56.7 ± 7.7 (range: 36–81). Participants with high‐intensity WTC exposure had an increased likelihood of top‐quartile CFI score (odds ratio[OR] vs. low exposure: 1.32, 95%CI: 1.07–1.64), controlling for covariates. Current and early PTSD were both associated with top‐quartile CFI (OR: 3.25, 95%CI: 2.53–4.19 and OR: 1.56, 95%CI: 1.26–1.93) respectively. Conclusions: High‐intensity WTC exposure was associated with self‐reported cognitive change 17 years later in rescue/recovery workers, as was PTSD. Highly WTC‐exposed subgroups may benefit from additional cognitive evaluation and monitoring of cognition over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1986, the government of Vietnam commenced the move from a centrally planned system to a market-oriented economy with a multisectoral economic structure and a multiownership system.This process, known as Doi Moi, has had a major effect on the economic and social fabric of Vietnam. Although the body of research on this topic has grown, few studies have explored the effect of these economic changes on the internal operations of enterprises. In particular, little is known about the relationship between these new forms of ownership and how enterprises structure their human resource management. This article seeks to explore this relationship through detailed case studies of 32 enterprises covering the range of ownership types.The findings reveal a diversity of human resource management practices, but certain practices are now more prevalent in particular types of enterprises; human resource management remains the overall exception. The article concludes by considering the theoretical and practical implications of these results for economies undergoing transition. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To test the a priori hypothesis that acute and chronic work exposures to the World Trade Center (WTC) site on or after September 11, 2001 were associated with risk of new-onset systemic autoimmune diseases. Methods A nested case-control study was performed in WTC rescue/recovery workers who had received a rheumatologist-confirmed systemic autoimmune disease diagnosis between September 12, 2001 and September 11, 2013 (n = 59), each of whom was individually matched to 4 randomly selected controls (n = 236) on the basis of year of hire (±1 year), sex, race, and work assignment (firefighter or emergency medical service). Acute exposure was defined according to the earliest time of arrival (morning of 9/11 versus later) at the WTC site, and chronic exposure was defined as duration (number of months) of WTC site-related work. Rheumatologists were blinded with regard to each subject's exposure status. The conditional odds ratios (CORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for incident autoimmune disease were derived from exact conditional logistic regression models. Results Rheumatoid arthritis was the most common autoimmune diagnosis (37% of subjects), followed by spondyloarthritis (22%), inflammatory myositis (14%), systemic lupus erythematosus (12%), systemic sclerosis (5%), Sjögren's syndrome (5%), antiphospholipid syndrome (3%), and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (2%). The COR for incident autoimmune disease increased by 13% (COR 1.13, 95% CI 1.02-1.26) for each additional month worked at the WTC site. These odds were independent of the association between high acute exposure (working during the morning of 9/11) and disease outcome, which conveyed an elevated, but not statistically significant, risk (COR 1.85, 95% CI 0.86-3.89). Conclusion Prolonged work at the WTC site, independent of acute exposure, was an important predictor of post-9/11 systemic autoimmune diseases. The WTC Health Program should expand surveillance efforts for those with extended exposures, as early detection can facilitate early treatment, which has been shown to minimize organ damage and improve quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidium are ubiquitous and significant enteropathogens of all classes of vertebrates and a major cause of human morbidity and mortality worldwide. Of the 24 recognized species, the zoonotic Cryptosporidium parvum and the host-specific Cryptosporidium hominis cause the majority of cases of human cryptosporidiosis. Here, we report on structural and transcriptional variability between C. parvum and C. hominis at the MIC1 locus, which encodes a microneme localized thrombospondin-like domain containing protein previously demonstrated to be critical for host cell infection by C. parvum. We demonstrate, using reverse transcription quantitative PCR with the aid of genomic data from the Eu Path DB site, that the transcribed product in C. hominis is both truncated and significantly down-regulated in the sporozoite. We hypothesize that Cp MIC1 may be a genetic factor involved in facilitating the wider host range of C. parvum in comparison with the specific host range of C. hominis. Furthermore, we show that the presence of a microsatellite ( ML-2) within the C. parvum MIC-1 locus enables the development of a PCR marker that can rapidly distinguish the zoonotic C. parvum from C. hominis and other significant human infectious Cryptosporidium species due to reproducible PCR slippage across the ML-2 microsatellite. Additionally, we demonstrate that this locus is tightly linked to the GP60 locus, a locus commonly used in the genetic characterization of C. parvum and C. hominis isolates. This marker should provide a robust and additional tool to aid in the rapid identification of C. parvum from other Cryptosporidium species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardioventilatory coupling ( CVC) is a temporal alignment between the heartbeat and inspiratory activity caused by pulsatile baroreceptor afferent activity. However, although first described over a century ago, the functional significance of CVC has yet to be established. One hypothesis is that baroreceptor triggering of inspiration positions heartbeats into phases of the respiratory cycle that may optimize pulmonary gas exchange efficiency. To test this hypothesis, we recruited ten patients with permanently implanted fixed-rate cardiac pacemakers and instructed them to pace breathe at heart rate-to-respiratory rate ( HR/ f) ratios of 3·8, 4·0 and 4·2. This breathing protocol enabled us to simulate heartbeat distributions similar to those seen in the presence (4·0) and complete absence (3·8, 4·2) of CVC. Results showed that heart rate, mean arterial pressure, end-tidal carbon dioxide and tidal volume remained unchanged across the three conditions ( P>0·05). Pulmonary gas exchange efficiency, as determined by the ventilatory equivalents of carbon dioxide ( [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peptide nanostructures containing bioactive signals offer exciting novel therapies of broad potential impact in regenerative medicine. These nanostructures can be designed through self-assembly strategies and supramolecular chemistry, and have the potential to combine bioactivity for multiple targets with biocompatibility. It is also possible to multiplex their functions by using them to deliver proteins, nucleic acids, drugs and cells. In this review, we illustrate progress made in this new field by our group and others using peptide-based nanotechnology. Specifically, we highlight the use of self-assembling peptide amphiphiles towards applications in the regeneration of the central nervous system, vasculature and hard tissue along with the transplant of islets and the controlled release of nitric oxide to prevent neointimal hyperplasia. Also, we discuss other self-assembling oligopeptide technology and the progress made with these materials towards the development of potential therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of parental mental health is well known, but children's very existence may fail to be recognized by adult mental-health services. This study aimed to explore attitudes of mental-health professionals in one outer London borough regarding support needs of mental-health service users' children to highlight potential barriers to identifying or meeting their support needs. All statutory mental-health teams in the borough participated in a cross-sectional survey. The response rate was 62.8% ( n = 94) out of 150. The sample consisted of a diverse range of professionals from both inpatient and community settings. The main finding was that practitioners were overwhelmingly in favour of supporting children. However, attitudes and practices were significantly associated with profession, setting and whether the respondent was a care coordinator. Demographic characteristics or experience was not associated with attitudes. Perceived barriers to supporting children are highlighted. In particular, the mental-health professionals in our sample considered supporting children important but did not necessarily consider it their role to do so. Training is required to raise awareness about this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the photosynthetic capacity of Peltigera preaetextata(Somm.) Vain. over the course of a year have been examined using photosynthetic-illumination curves. The results have been interpreted using the photosynthetic response models originally proposed by Prézelin. The low net photosynthetic rates obtianed following prolonged winter snow cover are interpreted as resulting from the interruption of energy transduction in some photosynthetic units. In spring, full energy transduction is rapidly re-established by the storage of experimental replicates at a warm temperature and results in a marked increase in net photosynthetic rates. As expansion increase markedly, whilst respiration decreases significantly, providing high rates of net photosynthesis even under light levels as low as 75 μmol m-2 s-1. This change in summer capacity is interpreted as being due to the synthesis of additional photosynthetic units in response to the low light conditions on the woodland floor. The data are discussed both in relation to comparable events in other lichen species and to the potential significance of seasonal changes in photosynthetic capacity in the ecology of P. praetextata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the contrasting thermal and light environment of sun and shade ecotypes of Cladonia rangiferina, analysis of the pattern of net photosynthesis throughout the year as well as enzyme polymorphism in each morphotype has found little genotypic difference. The large disparity between photosynthetic capacity in the sun and shade replicates is shown to be due simply to a difference in chlorophyll content. There is a significant decline in photosynthetic capacity in November and this is found to be reversible uncoupling of photosynthetic units (PU's) during the winter period. The control of coupling and uncoupling of PU's is shown to be mediated by both daylength and thallus temperatures, and a double environmental signal in June and July of short days coupled to low temperature will initiate and finalize the event within 12 h. This response pattern is discussed in relation to identical capacity changes in other lichen species. Apart from a single isoenzyme difference in esterase polymorphism, no differences in the zymograms of leucine aminopeptidase, phosphoglucoisomerase, or acid phosphatase were detected and this overall genetic homogeneity was equally evident in a general protein gel. This unexpected degree of homogeneity is discussed in terms of the difficulties in assessing enzyme polymorphisms in different plant populations without maximum refinement of protein preparation methods and electrophoretic techniques. It is concluded that the two quite distinct sun and shade morphotypes only reflect phenotypic differences. In contrast however significant differences are reported in the distribution of specific enzymes between the tops and bases of the podetia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixtures of Woburn (non-calcareous) and Barnfield (calcareous) soils, with and without added monocalcium phosphate, and of Woburn soil with added CaCO3, were stored moist in an incubator at 25 ± 2 °C. Equilibrium phosphate concentrations in 0·01M CaCl2 and pH were measured on moist soils and mono-calcium phosphate (½pCa+pH2PO4) and lime (pH-½pCa) potentials were calculated at intervals up to 670 days. Most of the mixtures remained under-saturated with respect to CaCO3; values of ½pCa+pH2PO4 and pH-½pCa changed during storage but remained close to the solubility isotherm for octacalcium phosphate (OCP). Mixtures which reached equilibrium with CaCO, remained undersaturated with respect to OCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We have used differential display to profile and compare the mRNAs expressed in the hippocampus of freely moving animals after the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) at the perforant path–dentate gyrus synapse with control rats receiving low-frequency stimulation. We have combined this with in situ hybridization and have identified A-kinase anchoring protein of 150 kDa (AKAP-150 ) as a gene selectively up-regulated during the maintenance phase of LTP. AKAP-150 mRNA has a biphasic modulation in the dentate gyrus following the induction of LTP. The expression of AKAP-150 was 29% lower than stimulated controls 1 h after the induction of LTP. Its expression was enhanced 3 (50%), 6 (239%) and 12 h (210%) after induction, returning to control levels by 24 h postinduction. The NMDA receptor antagonist CPP blocked the tetanus-induced modulation of AKAP-150 expression. Interestingly, strong generalized stimulation produced by electroconvulsive shock did not increase the expression of AKAP-150 . This implies that the AKAP-150 harbours a novel property of selective responsiveness to the stimulation patterns that trigger NMDA-dependent LTP in vivo . Its selective up-regulation during LTP and its identified functions as a scaffold for protein kinase A, protein kinase C, calmodulin, calcineurin and ionotropic glutamate receptors suggest that AKAP-150 encodes is an important effector protein in the expression of late LTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our goal was to examine the effect of the World Trade Center (WTC) attack and subsequent New York City Fire Department (FDNY) rescue/recovery activities on firefighter retirements. We also analyzed the financial impact associated with the increased number and proportion of service-connected "accidental" disability retirements on the FDNY pension system., Methods: A total of 7,763 firefighters retired between 9/11/1994 and 9/10/2008. We compared the total number of retirements and the number and proportion of accidental disability retirements 7 years before and 7 years after the WTC attack. We categorized WTC-related accidental disability retirements by medical cause and worked with the New York City Office of the Actuary to approximate the financial impact by cause., Results: In the 7 years before 9/11 there were 3,261 retirements, 48% (1,571) of which were accidental disability retirements. In the 7 years after 9/11, there were 4,502 retirements, 66% (2,970) were accidental disability retirements, of which 47% (1,402) were associated with WTC-related injuries or illnesses. After 9/11, the increase in accidental disability retirements was, for the most part, due to respiratory-related illnesses. Additional increases were attributed to psychological-related illnesses and musculoskeletal injuries incurred at the WTC site. Pension benefits associated with WTC-related accidental disability retirements have produced an increased financial burden of over $826 million on the FDNY pension system., Conclusions: The WTC attacks affected the health of the FDNY workforce resulting in more post-9/11 retirements than expected, and a larger proportion of these retirees with accidental disability pensions., (Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Long-term potentiation (LTP), a use dependent long-lasting modification of synaptic strength, was first discovered in the hippocampus and later shown to occur in sensory areas of the spinal cord. Here we demonstrate that spinal LTP requires the activation of a subset of superficial spinal dorsal horn neurons expressing the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1-R) that have previously been shown to mediate certain forms of hyperalgesia. These neurons participate in local spinal sensory processing, but are also the origin of a spino-bulbo-spinal loop driving a 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor (5HT3-R)- mediated descending facilitation of spinal pain processing. Using a saporin-substance P conjugate to produce site-specific neuronal ablation, we demonstrate that NK1-R expressing cells in the superficial dorsal horn are crucial for the generation of LTP-like changes in neuronal excitability in deep dorsal horn neurons and this is modulated by descending 5HT3-R-mediated facilitatory controls. Hippocampal LTP is associated with early expression of the immediate-early gene zif268 and knockout of the gene leads to deficits in long-term LTP and learning and memory. We found that spinal LTP is also correlated with increased neuronal expression of zif268 in the superficial dorsal horn and that zif268 antisense treatment resulted in deficits in the long-term maintenance of inflammatory hyperalgesia. Our results support the suggestion that the generation of LTP in dorsal horn neurons following peripheral injury may be one mechanism whereby acute pain can be transformed into a long-term pain state.