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Rationale The Environmental Exposure Unit (EEU), a controlled allergen exposure model of allergic rhinitis (AR), has traditionally utilized seasonal allergens. We sought to clinically validate the use of house dust mite (HDM), a perennial allergen, in the HDM-EEU, a specially designed facility within the larger EEU. Methods Forty-four HDM-allergic and eleven non-allergic participants were screened and deemed eligible for one of two 3-h exposure sessions in the HDM-EEU. Participants were exposed to a modest or higher HDM target, with blood and nasal brushing samples collected before and after allergen exposure. Symptomatic data, including Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS), Total Ocular Symptom Score (TOSS), Total Rhinoconjunctivitis Symptom Score (TRSS), and Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF) were collected at baseline, every 30 min until 3 h, on an hourly basis for up to 12 h, and at 24 h following the onset of HDM exposure. Results The modest and higher HDM target sessions respectively featured cumulative total particle counts of 156,784 and 266,694 particles (2.5–25 µm), Der f 1 concentrations of 2.67 ng/m3 and 3.80 ng/m3, and Der p 1 concentrations of 2.07 ng/m3 and 6.66 ng/m3. Allergic participants experienced an increase in symptoms, with modest target participants plateauing at 1.5 to 2 h and achieving a mean peak TNSS of 5.74 ± 0.65, mean peak TOSS of 2.47 ± 0.56, and mean peak TRSS of 9.16 ± 1.32. High HDM-target allergics reached a mean peak TNSS of 8.17 ± 0.71, mean peak TOSS of 4.46 ± 0.62, and mean peak TRSS of 14.08 ± 1.30 at 3 h. All allergic participants’ symptoms decreased but remained higher than baseline after exiting the HDM-EEU. Sixteen participants (37.2%) were classified as Early Phase Responders (EPR), eleven (25.6%) as protracted EPR (pEPR), seven (16.3%) as Dual Phase Responders (DPR), and nine (20.9%) as Poor Responders (PR). Allergic participants experienced significant percent PNIF reductions at hours 2 and 3 compared to healthy controls. Non-allergics were asymptomatic during the study period. Conclusions The HDM-EEU is an appropriate model to study HDM-induced AR as it can generate clinically relevant AR symptoms amongst HDM-allergic individuals.

Cet article decrit une ressource electronique contenant des textes qui representent le discours oral du passe de l’anglais moderne naissant. La ressource en question est A Corpus of English Dialogues 1560–1760, un corpus de 1.2 million de mots comprenant cinq genres : les rapports de proces, depositions de temoins, pieces de theâtre, œuvres didactiques et la prose fictionnelle. Les proces et les depositions representent des dialogues authentiques avec l’intervention minimale d’un scripteur et les autres genres constituent des dialogues construits par des auteurs connus ou anonymes. Nous decrivons les proprietes des genres inclus dans ce corpus et les illustrons en commentant des extraits tires du corpus. Apres avoir presente les recherches effectuees jusqu’a present sur la base de ce materiel, nous concluons en decrivant les differentes versions du corpus disponibles pour les utilisateurs.

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa that can be modeled using Controlled Allergen Exposure Facilities (CACF). Recently, we clinically validated the house dust mite (HDM) Environmental Exposure Unit (EEU) facility. In the current study, we aimed to assess biological responses in the blood following HDM exposure in the HDM-EEU.Methods: Fifty-five participants passed a screening visit, where they provided consent and completed a skin prick test (SPT), then attended a modest or higher HDM exposure session. Baseline and post-exposure blood samples were collected. Complete blood counts with differentials were measured, and isolated serum was used to determine Dermatophagoides farinae- and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-specific IgE (sIgE) and cytokine concentrations (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-α).Results: HDM-allergic participants had significantly greater SPT wheal sizes than healthy controls. sIgE concentrations were significantly greater in allergic participants, with a strong correlation between Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Serum eosinophil counts were significantly decreased post-exposure for allergic participants. White blood cell, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts were significantly increased for both allergic and non-allergic participants post-exposure. Serum IL-13 concentrations were significantly reduced post-exposure in allergics while TNF-α was significantly reduced in non-allergics.Conclusion: The HDM-EEU is a useful model for investigating biologic mechanisms of HDM-induced AR. Allergic participants produced measurable biological changes compared to healthy controls following allergen exposure, specifically with serum expression of eosinophils and related markers, namely IL-5, which promotes the proliferation and differentiation of eosinophils, and IL-13, a cytokine released by eosinophils. The exact mechanisms at play require further investigation.

This study concerns the development of the determiners mine/my and thine/thy in the Early Modern English period. The -n forms had essentially been ousted before words starting with consonants over the Middle English period, and over the subsequent centuries, these forms also fell into disuse before words starting with initial vowels and h. While the rise of the n-less variants has been the object of several previous studies, the present investigation aims at accounting for the fate of the declining n-variants in the Corpus of English Dialogues 1560–1760, a data source comprising speech-related texts. We look into the chronological stages of development for the declining mine and thine forms, the genres that maintained these forms longest, and the speaker groups that were the last to use the forms. Comparisons are made with the results obtained in previous studies on mine/my and thine/thy variation.

Bridging the gap between university and upper secondary school English studies : The ULE project

A growing number of organizations that have several years' experience with total quality management and other forms of continuous improvement are reporting that their programs are running out of steam or have failed to live up to expectations. Most are concerned with finding better ways to execute cultural change over time. Others believe that they have let the issue of rewards fall through the cracks.

Background: Several studies suggest that inhaled and oral corticosteroids repress systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the cytokines that may respond to these medications are unclear. Method: We used data from 41 patients with a history of stable moderate COPD (average age 64 years) who were randomised to inhaled fluticasone (500 μg twice daily from a Diskus inhaler), oral prednisone (30 mg daily) or placebo for 2 weeks. Using a multiplexed array system, different serum cytokines that have been implicated in COPD pathogenesis were measured. Results: We found that compared with placebo, inhaled fluticasone significantly reduced levels of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-2 (sTNF-R2) by 24% (95% CI, 7—38%; p = 0.01), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 by 20% (95% CI, 5—32%; p = 0.01), interferon gamma inducible CXCL10 (IP-10) by 43% (95% CI, 3—66%; p = 0.04), and soluble L-selectin levels by 15% (95% CI, 1—28%; p = 0.04). Compared with placebo, oral prednisone reduced levels of sTNF-R2 by 26% (95% CI, 15—36%; p < 0.001), L-selectin by 22% (95% CI, 8—34%; p = 0.004), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 by 31% (95% CI, 9—48%; p = 0.01), pulmonary and activation-regulated chemokine (PARC) by 18% (95% CI, 2—32%; p = 0.03) and IP-10 by 40% (95% CI, 0—64%; p = 0.05). sTNF-R2, L-selectin and IP-10 were significantly reduced by both oral and inhaled corticosteroids. The other cytokines were not significantly repressed by either oral or inhaled corticosteroids. Conclusions: In summary, inhaled and oral corticosteroids significantly repressed a selected number of systemic cytokines in patients with stable, moderate COPD; most of the steroid-responsive cytokines appear to be chemoattractants.

Though the relation between religion and morality is mentioned in almost every major work Hume wrote, he never dedicated a work to examining this relation. Moreover, his treatment of the subject, where it does appear, is unsystematic. Unfortunately, looking to the secondary literature for help in understanding Hume's thought on the relation between religion and morality is of little help, since past writers have largely neglected this area of Hume's thought. The purpose of this thesis, therefore, is to systematize Hume's thought on the relation between religion and morality. In my introduction I begin with a brief presentation of the historical context in which Hume's comments on this subject were made. This aids in understanding Hume by illustrating the types of views that he was responding to. I also examine the secondary literature that has been written on Hume and his views concerning religion and morality in order to show what has been written and what sort of work still needs to be done. The core of this thesis is dedicated to systematizing Hume's thought on religion and morality. I argue that all of Hume's main claims about religion and its relation to morality support at least one of three major conclusions: (1) that morality is secular, (2) that religion cannot be the foundation for morality and (3) that religion is pernicious to morality. A chapter is dedicated to each of these topics. Lastly, I address the issue of whether or not Hume believed in a true religion. The answer to this question is essential in evaluating just how injurious Hume's comments about religion are. I argue that Hume did not believe that there can be a true religion.Dept. of Philosophy. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1996 .M93. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 37-01, page: 0077. Adviser: John P. Wright. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1996.

Publication Rights Reserved This paper is to be presented at the Mechanical Engineering Aspects of Drilling Production Symposium in Fort Worth, Tex., on March 23–24, 1964, and is considered the property of Society of Petroleum Engineers. Permission to publish is hereby restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words, with no illustrations, unless the paper is specifically released to the press by the Editor of the Journal of Petroleum Engineers or the Executive Secretary. Such abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper is presented. Publication elsewhere after publication in JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY or SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL is granted on request, providing proper credit is given that publication and the original presentation of the paper. Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and, with the paper, may be considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines. Abstract The importance of effective isolation of the producing formations has led to the development of tools to evaluate the bonding of the cement to both the pipe and the formation. In order to record all of these acoustic properties of the cased hole, the Micro-Seismogram Log has been combined with the Acoustic Cement Bond Log. Properly used, these logs can be used to evaluate cementing techniques early in the development of fields in various areas, thus reducing recompletion and remedial costs. The Micro-Seismogram and Acoustic Cement Bond Logs run before and after cement squeezing verify interpretation of the initial runs by effectively recording changes resulting from the additional cement. Since pressure changed inside the casing will cause the pipe to expand or contract, well studies are included to aid in evaluating this factor. Introduction The purpose of the primary cementing job of the precaution casing is to effectively isolate production zones and to eliminate the production of undesirable fluids. Variations in formations, drilling techniques, and mud programs necessitate a suitable cementing program. Many time in the case of multiple pay field, the effective isolation of only one or two zones is evaluated by actual test upon initial completion. Information on the hydraulic isolation of other producing zones usually awaits recompletion at some future date in the life of the field. Under these circumstances it is very likely that a decision of whether or not to block squeeze must be made on every well that is to be recompleted. In formations, where some form of well stimulation is performed for commercial production, the necessity for effective isolation is obvious, since cement squeezing of fracture-stimulated formations can possibly damage well productivity by cementing the fractures. Through the proper use of acoustics the entire cemented interval can be evaluated. Thus, the well operator can be aided in adapting a suitable cementing program to meet the specific problem. The Acoustic Cement Bond Log (ACBL) is an outgrowth of acoustic velocity logging, and it has been in field use for more than three years. The ACBL has had wide spread use in evaluating the cement bonding in individual wells; however, until recently it has not been used to its full potential. The cased hole presents a number of travel paths for the acoustic signal from transmitter to receiver.

Background Azelastine has been shown to be effective against seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). The Environmental Exposure Unit (EEU) is a validated model of experimental SAR. The objective of this double-blind, four-way crossover study was to evaluate the onset of action of azelastine nasal spray, versus the oral antihistamines loratadine 10 mg and cetirizine 10 mg in the relief of the symptoms of SAR. Methods 70 participants, aged 18-65, were randomized to receive azelastine nasal spray, cetirizine, loratadine, or placebo after controlled ragweed pollen exposure in the EEU. Symptoms were evaluated using the total nasal symptom score (TNSS). The primary efficacy parameter was the onset of action as measured by the change from baseline in TNSS. Results Azelastine displayed a statistically significant improvement in TNSS compared with placebo at all time points from 15 minutes through 6 hours post dose. Azelastine, cetirizine, and loratadine reduced TNSS compared to placebo with an onset of action of 15 (p

Background Oral histamine receptor–1 antagonists, such as fexofenadine, offer suboptimal relief of allergic rhinitis-associated nasal congestion. Combinations with oral sympathomimetics, such as pseudoephedrine, relieve congestion but produce side effects. Histamine receptor-3 antagonists, such as PF-03654764, reduce congestion in animals and have been proposed as novel therapeutics. Previous nasal allergen challenge studies of similar H1+H3 receptor antagonist combinations demonstrated reduced congestion. Herein we employ the Environmental Exposure Unit (EEU) to conduct the first randomized controlled trial of PF-03654764 in allergic rhinitis. The primary objective was to compare the effect of PF-03654764+fexofenadine to pseudoephedrine+fexofenadine on the subjective measures of congestion and Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS). The objective of post-hoc analyses were to compare all treatments to placebo and determine the onset of action (OA).