Comparative disappearance of dioxathion,malathion, oxydemetonmethyl and dialifor from Florida citrus leaf and fruit surfaces

Surface residue disappearance rates of dioxathion, malathion, oxydemetonmethyl, and dialifor were the same for fruit and leaves, and they increase with temperature. Disappearance rates were in the order of malathion Oxydemetonmethyl dialifor dioxathion. Malaoxon was present in relatively constant amounts under dry, cool, clear conditions but was not detected under wet, hot, cloudy conditions.Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Journal Series No. 2098.     

The effect of dry and humid hot air inhalation on expired relative humidity during exercise.

It has been previously demonstrated that under certain environmental conditions, expired air is not fully water saturated because of the low relative humidity of the first part of the expirate. This finding is of interest to those involved in respirator research, particularly those who design and test robotic metabolic simulators. These simulators must accurately mimic the physiological responses of human airways to breathing air of various temperatures and relative humidities (RHs). Because these responses are not fully quantified, this study examined the mean relative humidity of expired air during four inspired air conditions: cool dry (26 degrees C, 60% RH), cool humid (26 degrees C, 95% RH), hot dry (45 degrees C, 11% RH), and hot humid (45 degrees C, 95% RH). These conditions were administered during three exercise intensities: rest, low (35% VO2max), and moderate (70% VO2max). As compared to the cool dry (CD) condition, frequency of breathing (f) was 9.3% lower and tidal volume (VT) was 9.4% greater across all exercise intensities for the hot humid (HH) condition (p less than 0.05). Mean expired relative humidity (ERH) was substantially lower for the hot dry (HD) condition as compared to the other three conditions during each sampling period. These findings support the conclusion that the mean ERH of expired air depends upon several respiratory and environmental factors in addition to inspired air temperature.     

Evaluation of the environmental stress index (ESI) for hot/dry and hot/wet climates

Recently, a novel environmental stress index (ESI) which is composed from commonly used meteorological variables: ambient temperature (T(a)), relative humidity (RH), and solar radiation (SR) was suggested as follows: ESI = 0.63T(a)-0.03RH+0.002SR+0.0054(T(a) x RH)-0.073(0.1+SR)(-1); (degrees C) The purpose of the present study was to evaluate and validate the ESI for hot dry and hot wet climatic conditions. The ESI was applied to large meteorological databases from 2 different locations resembling hot/wet and hot/dry climates. Data analysis revealed high correlation between ESI and the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index for each of the two databases: P < 0.05, R2 = 0.985 and 0.982, for the hot/dry and hot/wet conditions, respectively. Therefore, it is concluded that ESI, which is constructed from fast response and commonly used weather variables (T(a), RH, SR), and also found in a microsensor format is validated for hot/dry and hot/wet zones and as a potential index to serve as an alternative to the WBGT for heat category assessment.     

Nocturnal enuresis and the use of desmopressin: is it helpful?

We assessed the outcome of the use of an enuretic alarm and desmopressin according to conventional guidelines and investigated the reasons for resistance to desmopressin. Children were given a 4 month course using an enuretic alarm if they had not previously used one; 12 out of 21 were dry (57%) after 4 months and one relapsed 1 month later. Those who had previously failed with an alarm or were considered poorly motivated to use it, were given a 4 month course of intranasal desmopressin. Of these 26 children, 10 (38%) were dry at the end of 4 months but only two (7%) remained dry after this was withdrawn. After the initial treatment with alarm or desmopressin, 27 children were still enuretic and attending the clinic. They were shown how to use the alarm and eight also used the dry bed training technique: 15 had become dry after a further 6 months. Of the 12 children who made no response to intranasal desmopressin, nine were given this medication under supervision in hospital; seven of these children still wet the bed despite producing small amounts of concentrated urine overnight. They also had small measured diurnal bladder capacities. We conclude that if a 4 month course with an enuretic alarm is unsuccessful, rather than using desmopressin, the alarm should be continued with relearning and consideration given to additional use of the dry bed training technique. The major factor causing nocturnal enuresis in children is likely to be a small nocturnal bladder capacity.     

Differences between Kallawaya-Andean and Greek-European humoral theory

Kallawaya Andeans and Classic Greeks have a humoral epistemology based on analogical thinking and systems of correspondence, but they are culturally different systems. This does not imply that the latter system derived from the earlier but rather than Andeans and Greeks emphasized the relationship of body and humors to climate and land. Ethnographic data indicates that Kallawaya Andeans have a topographical-hydraulic model for understanding the physiology of their bodies. This differs from Greek-European humoral theory, which scholars consider the basis of Latin American folk medicine, in that Greeks try to balance their body fluids, whereas Kallawayas understand their fluids in centripetal and centrifugal motion. Kallawayas conceive of the body in more holistic concepts than Greeks and Europeans who distinguish between thought and matter, body and soul, and inner and outer. The fact that Kallawayas employ hot/cold, and wet/dry categories suggest either that they adopted this from Greek European humoral theory from the Spaniards or that these categories were pre-Columbian. Epistemological similarities facilitate the adoption into Kallawaya ethnophysiology of foods, medicines, and illnesses classified as hot/cold, and wet/dry in Spanish herbal books, which were used in the Andes after the Conquest.     

Survival of female Anopheles gambiae Giles through a 9-month dry season in Sudan

The dry-season biology of a member of the Anopheles gambiae complex (probably species B) was studied in 2 areas in the Khartoum region of Sudan. It was found that in the valley of the White Nile the species maintained itself by low-level breeding, as shown by the continuing presence of larvae, male mosquitos and parous females through the dry months (9 months in the year). In the scattered villages of arid areas situated more than 20 km from the Nile Valley, on the other hand, regular sampling through the cool dry and hot dry months of the year failed to detect any An. gambiae except nulliparous females. These were found in occupied huts, deserted huts, dry wells and animal burrows.     

Circulatory and thermal responses of men with different training status to prolonged physical work in dry and humid heat

Eight physically trained and eight untrained, unacclimated men walked on a treadmill at 30% of their maximum oxygen consumption up to 3.5 h in a thermoneutral [20 degrees C/40% relative humidity (RH)], a warm humid (30 degrees C/80% RH), and a hot dry (40 degrees C/20% RH) environment while wearing industrial work clothing. Their oxygen consumption, rectal and skin temperatures, sweating, cardiac output, heart rate, stroke volume, and peripheral blood pressure were measured during the tests. Thirteen of the 32 heat stress tests were prematurely stopped due to high rectal temperature, high heart rate, subjective fatigue, or heat syncope. The physiological strain, as indicated by the rectal temperature and heart rate, was not significantly different between the warm humid and hot dry environments (wet bulb globe temperature approximately 28 degrees C). The rectal temperature and heart rate responses of the physically trained and untrained subjects did not differ in any of the environments. In the heat, the heart rate was significantly higher than in the thermoneutral environment, but because of the markedly reduced stroke volume the average cardiac output was not different between the three environments. The impaired work performance in the heat seemed mainly to be related to the circulatory instability accompanying the increased cutaneous circulation.     

How do the work environment and work safety differ between the dry and wet kitchen foodservice facilities?

In order to create a worker-friendly environment for institutional foodservice, facilities operating with a dry kitchen system have been recommended. This study was designed to compare the work safety and work environment of foodservice between wet and dry kitchen systems. Data were obtained using questionnaires with a target group of 303 staff at 57 foodservice operations. Dry kitchen facilities were constructed after 2006, which had a higher construction cost and more finishing floors with anti-slip tiles, and in which employees more wore non-slip footwear than wet kitchen (76.7%). The kitchen temperature and muscular pain were the most frequently reported employees'' discomfort factors in the two systems, and, in the wet kitchen, "noise of kitchen" was also frequently reported as a discomfort. Dietitian and employees rated the less slippery and slip related incidents in dry kitchens than those of wet kitchen. Fryer area, ware-washing area, and plate waste table were the slippery areas and the causes were different between the functional areas. The risk for current leakage was rated significantly higher in wet kitchens by dietitians. In addition, the ware-washing area was found to be where employees felt the highest risk of electrical shock. Muscular pain (72.2%), arthritis (39.1%), hard-of-hearing (46.6%) and psychological stress (47.0%) were experienced by employees more than once a month, particularly in the wet kitchen. In conclusion, the dry kitchen system was found to be more efficient for food and work safety because of its superior design and well managed practices.     

Community water-contact patterns and the transmission of Schistosoma haematobium in the highveld region of Zimbabwe

The patterns of community water-contact, their relationships to Schistosoma haematobium infection in the human population and also in Bulinus globosus, snail host for S. haematobium and S. mattheei were carried out at 12 human water contact sites located in stream habitats in the temperate highveld region of Zimbabwe over a 27-month period during 1982-1984. It was shown that water contact was markedly heterogeneous with sex, age, type of activity and village location being the major variables affecting water-contact patterns. This heterogeneity in contact appears to be related to variations in levels of infection with S. haematobium among residents of the villages and by sex but in adults high water-contact was not associated with increased levels of infection and this discrepancy is attributed to the influence of acquired immunity in adults. An association was found between total body exposure indices and prevalence of S. haematobium in B. globosus in the cool dry and hot dry period of the year indicating that the level of input of schistosome eggs into water play an important role in determining snail infection rates, although the absence of clearcut relationships between the two parameters in the rainy and post-rainy periods suggest that other factors may be involved.     

The lagged effect of cold temperature and wind chill on cardiorespiratory mortality in Scotland

Aims: To investigate the lagged effects of cold temperature on cardiorespiratory mortality and to determine whether "wind chill" is a better predictor of these effects than "dry bulb" temperature. Methods: Generalised linear Poisson regression models were used to investigate the relation between mortality and "dry bulb" and "wind chill" temperatures in the three largest Scottish cities (Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen) between January 1981 and December 2001. Effects of temperature on mortality (lags up to one month) were quantified. Analyses were conducted for the whole year and by season (cool and warm seasons). Main results: Temperature was a significant predictor of mortality with the strongest association observed between temperature and respiratory mortality. There was a non-linear association between mortality and temperature. Mortality increased as temperatures fell throughout the range, but the rate of increase was steeper at temperatures below 11°C. The association between temperature and mortality persisted at lag periods beyond two weeks but the effect size generally decreased with increasing lag. For temperatures below 11°C, a 1°C drop in the daytime mean temperature on any one day was associated with an increase in mortality of 2.9% (95% CI 2.5 to 3.4), 3.4% (95% CI 2.6 to 4.1), 4.8% (95% CI 3.5 to 6.2) and 1.7% (95% CI 1.0 to 2.4) over the following month for all cause, cardiovascular, respiratory, and "other" cause mortality respectively. The effect of temperature on mortality was not observed to be significantly modified by season. There was little indication that "wind chill" temperature was a better predictor of mortality than "dry bulb" temperature. Conclusions: Exposure to cold temperature is an important public health problem in Scotland, particularly for those dying from respiratory disease.     

Influence of refined cellulose on human bowel function and calcium and magnesium balance

The effect of cellulose purified from wood pulp on wet and dry stool weights, gastrointestinal transit time (TT), frequency of defecation, and calcium and magnesium balances was tested. Seven healthy women consumed a low fiber diet of constant composition (percentage of total kcal: 23% protein, 30% fat, 47% carbohydrate) and the same metabolically controlled diet to which 16 g of refined cellulose (Solka Floc) was added. Each diet was consumed for approximately one month. The neutral detergent fiber contents of the two diets were 9.5 and 23.5 g, respectively. Cellulose consumption significantly increased mean daily wet stool weight from 74.6 +/- 23.4 (SD) to 130.5 +/- 29.4 g, mean daily dry fecal weight from 19.1 +/- 4.2 to 39.5 +/- 7.7 g, and frequency of defecatin from 0.85 +/- 0.2 to 1.10 +/- 0.29/day. Cellulose effectively shortened TT of two subjects with initially slow TT (7 days), but mean TT of all subjects was not significantly affected when fiber was added to the diet. Fecal excretions of calcium and magnesium were significantly greater when the diet containing cellulose was fed, and only calcium balance was significantly more negative. These results suggest that moderate levels of refined cellulose adversely increased fecal losses of calcium and magnesium. All other indices of bowel function remained within normal ranges.     

D—半乳糖对不同性别小鼠骨的影响

目的:观察D-半乳糖对不同性别小鼠骨的影响。方法:3月龄清洁级小鼠60只,雌、雄各半,随机分成6组,每组10只,雌性对照组和D-半乳糖低、高剂量组,雄性对照组和D-半乳糖低、高剂量组。分别皮下注射生理盐水和浓度为6%,12%的D-半乳糖,注射体积为0.1 ml/10g,给药2个月后眼球放血处死小鼠,并获取血清检测其中的过氧化酶活性。取出左侧股骨,剔除股骨上软组织,称湿重后,高温下烤干称其干重,再用盐酸进行消化,测定骨消化液中钙、磷、镁、锌、硫等元素以及骨羟脯氨酸的含量。结果:D-半乳糖各剂量组与对照组相比,雌性小鼠的体重、骨干、湿重和骨羟脯氨酸的含量没有明显变化,但骨干湿重比值升高,骨Ca、P、Mg、S含量升高明显,其中高剂量组尤为明显,分别升高10%,27%,35.5%,100%。雄性小鼠体重、骨干、湿重和骨羟脯氨酸没有明显变化,骨干湿重比值轻微降低,骨Ca、P、Mg含量降低,其中低剂量较明显,分别降低10%、11%、8%。结论:D-半乳糖对骨的影响存在性别差异,D-半乳糖可提高雌性小鼠矿化程度,对骨基质影响不明显。但D-半乳糖对雄性小鼠骨的影响正好相反,D-半乳糖可降低雄性小鼠骨矿化程度,骨矿化元素明显降低,对骨基质含量变化也不明显。     

Longitudinal studies of infectious diseases and physical growth of children in rural Bangladesh. II. Incidence of diarrhea and association with known pathogens

Longitudinal studies were done in two villages rural Bangladesh to learn more about the interactions between infectious diseases and the nutritional status of children. Diarrheal diseases, identified by surveillance of 197 children aged 2-60 months, were studied for bacterial, viral and parasitic enteropathogens in 1978-1979. The annual incidence of diarrhea was highest in children aged 2-11 months, and declined progressively with age from seven to four episodes per child per year. An enteropathogen was identified from rectal cultures taken during diarrhea in 51% of episodes and from 6% of monthly cultures taken when diarrhea was not present. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli were the pathogens found most frequently, followed by shigellae and rotaviruses. Diarrheal episodes associated with shigellae had the longest duration, while episodes associated with Vibrio cholerae or with rotavirus were more frequently associated with dehydration. E. coli diarrhea had a peak incidence during the hot months, and shigellosis was more frequent during the cool, dry months.     

Microbial risk assessment for recreational use of the Chicago area waterway system

A microbial risk assessment was conducted to estimate the human health risks from incidental contact recreational activities such as canoeing, boating and fishing in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) receiving secondary treated, but non-disinfected, effluent from three municipal water reclamation plants. Actual concentrations of the pathogens (pathogenic E. coli [estimated], Giardia, Cryptosporidium, adenovirus, norovirus, enteric virus) detected from the waterway field data collection at locations upstream and downstream of the effluent outfall during dry and wet weather conditions within the recreation season were included in the risk assessment. The results under the current treatment scheme with no disinfection indicated that the total expected gastrointestinal illness (GI) rate per 1000 incidental contact recreational exposure events during combined weather (dry and wet) conditions ranged from 0.10 to 2.78 in the CAWS, which is below the eight illnesses per 1000 swimmers considered tolerable by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Wet weather conditions contribute to elevated pathogen load to the CAWS; therefore this study determined that disinfecting the effluents of three major WRPs that discharge to the CAWS would result in an extremely small reduction in the aggregate recreation season risk to incidental contact recreators.     

Carotenoids, ascorbic acid, minerals, and total glucosinolates in choysum (Brassica rapa cvg. parachinensis) and kailaan (B. oleraceae Alboglabra group) as affected by variety and wet and dry season production

Choysum (Brassica rapa cvg. parachinensis) and kailaan (Brassica oleraceae Alboglabra Group) are economically and nutritionally important leafy brassicas in east and southeast Asia. We evaluated 22 commercial varieties of each crop in dry and wet season trials at the World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) to assess genetic diversity among varieties for phytonutrient content and phytonutrient yields (product of plot yield and plot nutrient content), and to measure the effect of season on phytonutrient content. The season strongly affected the content of most phytonutrients. Mean total carotenoid content of choysum and kailaan varieties declined by 37% and 23%, respectively, in wet season versus dry season trials. In contrast, calcium and ascorbic acid contents of both crops were about 50% and 20% higher in the wet season than in the dry season trial. Varietal variation for total carotenoids was about five-fold and four-fold, respectively, for choysum and kailaan in the dry season trial, and variation in iron content was about three-fold in the wet season trial. Several varieties of each crop ranked among the best varieties in both seasons for phytonutrient yield. Varieties outstanding for content of a particular phytonutrient tended to perform well in either dry or wet season, but not both.     

Habitat and temporal partitioning of tree hole Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Spring emergence patterns of tree hole Culicoides were examined at 11 geographic locations. Habitat selection was one mechanism of partitioning used by Culicoides. One group (3 species) occupied tree holes with standing water (wet), while the other (7 species) inhabited tree holes without standing water (dry). The wet tree hole species had sustained emergence patterns, emergence maintained over several consecutive weeks. The dry tree hole species had phasic or biphasic emergence lasting fewer days or occurring as 2 short periods. In both dry and wet habitats, species emerged in a temporal sequence. This temporal sequence was disrupted if a species occupied a type of tree hole (wet/dry) from which it did not normally occur.     

乳酸依沙吖啶联合金黄散治疗化学性静脉炎的疗效观察

目的观察乳酸依沙吖啶溶液联合金黄散治疗化学性静脉炎的疗效观察。方法选取本院2015年6月-2017年12月肿瘤化疗发生静脉炎患者46例作为研究对象,随机分成两组。对照组:采用50%的硫酸镁湿热敷患处。观察组:采用乳酸依沙吖啶溶液与金黄散制剂交替湿热敷患处。3天后利用疼痛评估量表与静脉炎分级标准结合进行评价。结果观察组治愈23例,显效18例,总有效率95.65%,有统计意义(P<0.01)。结论乳酸依沙吖啶溶液联合金黄散治疗化学性静脉炎不但有良好的治疗效果,而且实用、无毒副作用。     

Seasonality of low birthweight in Indigenous Australians: an increase in pre-term birth or intrauterine growth retardation?

We have analysed birthweights of 4,508 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander livebirths in the Kimberley region of Western Australia from 1981-93. Mean birthweight varied significantly according to month of birth (F₍₁₁₎=2.57, p =0.003) and low birthweight babies were more common during the wet season. A significant increase in the proportion of very low birthweight (VLBW) babies was observed during the wet season compared with the dry season (OR 2.73; 95% Cl 2.3–3.67; p <0.001); whereas babies weighing 1,500–2,499 g were not significantly more common during the wet season (OR 1.06; 95% Cl 0.96–1.17; p =ns). The results indicate that adverse environmental conditions may be associated with increased risk of VLBW. Since newborns weighing less than 1500 g are very likely to be pre-term (<37 weeks' gestation), the findings also suggest that seasonality of birthweight may be due to an increase in pre-term births rather than an increase in intrauterine growth retardation. Further research is required to identify the underlying causes of an increase in VLBW babies during the wet season.     

Impact of Fertilizers on Heavy Metal Loads in Surface Soils in Nzoia Nucleus Estate Sugarcane Farms in Western Kenya

Analysis of heavy metals in top soil samples from Nzoia sugarcane farms in Western Kenya found elevated levels of heavy metals in the soils with mean concentrations (mg kg⁻¹ dry weight) of 142.38, 59.12, 73.35, 116.27, 409.84 (dry season) and 144.22, 50.29, 72.14, 158.81, 368.83 (wet season) for Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn and Fe, respectively, compared with a control soil sample from an adjacent field where fertilizers are not applied having mean concentrations of 117.27, 61.87, 63.68, 123.49, 282.93 (dry season) 108.00, 50.68, 66.10, 114.23, 167.01 (wet season), respectively. The heavy metal loads in the sugarcane farms were above international standards. The levels of the same metals in the fertilizers used in the sugarcane farms were within acceptable international standards. A risk assessment of the continued use of phosphate fertilizer (DAP) in the farms based on a 50-year period, did not exceed international threshold. The soil pH values (6.18 dry season and 5.66 wet season) were low compared to the control (7.46 dry season and 7.10 wet season) a situation that could accelerate heavy metal solubility and mobility in the farm soil. Lowering of soil pH was attributed mainly to fertilizer application and partly to increased organic matter content as shown by the high mean total organic carbon content values of 8.63% (dry season) and 8.43 (wet season) in comparison with a control soil meant total organic carbon content value of 4.76% (dry season) and 5.02 (wet season).     

The magnitude of seasonal changes in larval populations of Aedes aegypti in Bangkok, Thailand

Weekly surveys of Aedes aegypti larvae were made during 1966-67 in three localities in Bangkok in order to detect and measure any changes in the population which might be correlated with the seasons. The larval habitats were divided into water-jars and miscellaneous containers. Only the data from alternate weekly surveys were analysed. Analysis of variance showed that the changes in the numbers of habitats occupied varied greatly both by month and by locality. It is concluded that there was some reduction in the larval population during the cool and hot seasons and that the magnitude and timing of the fall varied from place to place. The reduction was of the order of 11%-26%. Local environmental changes, as well as climatic changes, greatly influenced the Ae. aegypti population.