Length of residence and obesity risk among North African immigrant women in Italy

Obesity is one of the major risks for chronic health conditions. Immigrants from low- and middle-income to high-income countries show a tendency to weight gain, with the country of origin, lifestyle habits, socioeconomic status and length of residence as the main factors involved. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the association between fat distribution and obesity with length of residence and other socio-demographic variables in a sample of North African women migrated to Italy. Socio-demographic variables were collected by structured face-to-face interview. For the assessment of weight status and body composition, various anthropometric traits were directly measured by an expert anthropometrist. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA adjusted for age to test the differences between length of residence (divided into three groups) and logistic regression models adjusted for covariates to test the association between overweight and/or obesity and length of residence. Significant differences between the three groups were observed in waist circumference (p = 0.004), waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.001), and upper arm muscularity (p = 0.025), with higher values in those with longer duration of residence. In the crude logistic regression model length of residence resulted positively associated with obesity with the odds of being obese increased by 2.4 times in long term immigrants [OR 2.364 (0.766; 7.296)]. After adjusting for covariate the association remained significant [OR 3.584 (0.779; 16.480)], and being poorly educated [OR 5.737 (0.641; 51.363)], unemployed [OR 6.892 (0.940; 50.528)] and not practicing regular physical activity [OR 17.736 (1.569; 200.418)] increased the odds ratio of being obese.In conclusion, length of residence, socioeconomic status, and physical activity were significantly correlated with obesity, with a longer duration of residence being positively associated with central fat adiposity and upper arm muscle area in North African migrant women.     

非小细胞肺癌术后并发乳糜胸对患者生活质量影响的研究

目的:探讨非小细胞肺癌术后并发乳糜胸对患者生活质量的影响。方法:采用生活质量测定量表(QLQ-C30)回顾性分析第四军医大学唐都医院胸外科自2013年至2016年中收治的1015例肺癌手术患者的生活质量,发生乳糜胸组记为A组,未发生乳糜胸组记为B组。对比术前和术后1、3、6和12个月的生活质量有无统计学差异。结果:(1)术后1月时,除了社会功能、便秘、腹泻以外,两组生活质量指标评分均显著低于术前,且B组均显著低于A组,有统计学差异(表3,P0.05)。在手术后3月及以后逐渐恢复,至12月时,各组指标与术前基本相同(表3,P0.05);(2)两组术后生活质量相比较,术后1、3月,除社会功能、便秘、腹泻以外,其余生活质量功能指标B组均显著优于A组,有统计学差异(表3,P0.05)。在手术后6月及以后,B组所有指标与A组无统计学差异(表3,P0.05)。结论:肺癌根治术后发生乳糜胸患者生活质量显著低于未发生乳糜胸患者,因此应合理选择手术方式,注意术中操作,降低乳糜胸发生率,提高肺癌患者术后的生活质量。     

Modela-r as a Froude and Strouhal dimensionless numbers combination for dynamic similarity in running

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that running at fixed fractions of Froude (Nfr) and Strouhal (Str) dimensionless numbers combinations induce dynamic similarity between humans of different sizes. Nineteen subjects ran in three experimental conditions, (i) constant speed, (ii) similar speed (Nfr) and (iii) similar speed and similar step frequency (Nfr and Str combination). In addition to anthropometric data, temporal, kinematic and kinetic parameters were assessed at each stage to measure dynamic similarity informed by dimensional scale factors and by the decrease of dimensionless mechanical parameter variability. Over a total of 54 dynamic parameters, dynamic similarity from scale factors was met for 16 (mean r=0.51), 32 (mean r=0.49) and 52 (mean r=0.60) parameters in the first, the second and the third experimental conditions, respectively. The variability of the dimensionless preceding parameters was lower in the third condition than in the others. This study shows that the combination of Nfr and Str, computed from the dimensionless energy ratio at the center of gravity (Modela-r) ensures dynamic similarity between different-sized subjects. The relevance of using similar experimental conditions to compare mechanical dimensionless parameters is also proved and will highlight the study of running techniques, or equipment, and will allow the identification of abnormal and pathogenic running patterns. Modela-r may be adapted to study other abilities requiring bounces in human or animal locomotion or to conduct investigations in comparative biomechanics.     

中药联合微生态制剂防治呼吸、消化系统病毒病

本文阐述了中药防治病毒病的历史及其应用概况,中药联合微生态制剂防治呼吸、消化系统病毒病的理论依据、临床应用和发展前景。     

Health risk assessment via consumption of Pb and Cd contaminated vegetables collected from fresh markets in the lower north of Thailand

This study aimed to investigate the Pb and Cd contamination and health risk assessment for population via consumption of vegetables sold in fresh markets around the lower north of Thailand. The concentrations of Pb and Cd in various vegetables such as root/tuber, stem, inflorescence, fruit, and leaf vegetables were analyzed using an atomic absorption spec-trophotometer. Human health risks of these metals in vegetables were assessed based on target hazard quotient (THQ). The results indicated that more than 80% of the Pb and Cd in almost all vegetable samples exceeded the maximum allowable concentration by National Food Institute criteria with an average range of 0.96–3.39 and 0.48–1.40 mg/kg, respectively. The estimated daily intakes (EDI) of Pb and Cd via dietary consumption of vegetables were between 0.001–0.010 and 0.002–0.008 mg/kg/d, respectively. All EDIs of Pb contaminated vegetables were higher than the reference dose recommended by the USEPA except for leaf edible vegetables, while all EDIs of Cd contaminated vegetables were higher than the reference dose recommended by the USEPA. THQ indicated that the consumption of Pb contaminated root/tuber, stem, inflorescence, and fruit edible vegetables and Cd contaminated leaf vegetable for the local population in the lower north of Thailand could be a severe health risk problem.     

Pollination disruption by European honeybees in the Australian bird-pollinated shrubGrevillea barklyana (Proteaceae)

European honeybees (Apis mellifera) were less efficient pollinators ofGrevillea barklyana than nectar-feeding birds. Nectar-collecting honeybees did not contact reproductive parts of flowers. Pollen-collecting honeybees preferentially visited malestage flowers but rarely visited female-stage flowers. Fruit set on caged inflorescences that allowed access to honeybees but excluded birds was reduced by more than 50% compared to inflorescences that were visited by both types of visitors. Further, fruit set on caged inflorescences was less than on bagged inflorescences that excluded both birds and honeybees, indicating that pollen removal by bees decreased opportunities for delayed autonomous selfing in the absence of birds. Although fruit set was not pollen-limited at the study site, pollen removal by honeybees would decrease fruit set in small populations where birds are scarce. In addition, pollen removal by honeybees would reduce opportunities for outcrossing and reproductive success through male function. Although honeybees have been in Australia for insufficient time to have exerted selection on floral traits, evolutionary shifts in response to these animals are likely to occur in the future.     

Principles and pitfalls in designing site-directed peptide ligands

An immunoglobulin light chain dimer with a large generic binding cavity was used as a host molecule for designing a series of peptide guest ligands. In a screening procedure peptides coupled to solid supports were systematically tested for binding activity by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Key members of the binding series were synthesized in milligram quantities and diffused into crystals of the host molecule for X-ray analyses. These peptides were incrementally increased in size and affinity until they nearly filled the cavity. Progressive changes in binding patterns were mapped by comparisons of crystallo-graphically refined structures of 14 peptide–protein complexes at 2.7 Å resolution. These comparisons led to guidelines for ligand design and also suggested ways to modify previously established binding patterns. By manipulating equilibria involving histidine, for example, it was possible to abolish one important intramolecular interaction of the bound ligand and substitute another. These events triggered a change inconformation of the ligand from a compact to an extended form and a comprehensive change in the mode of binding to the protein. In dipeptides of histidine and proline, protonation of both imidazolium nitrogen atoms was used to program anend-to-end reversal of the direction in which the ligand was inserted into the binding cavity. Peptides cocrystallized with proteins produced complexes somewhat different in structure from those in which ligandswere diffused into preexisting crystals. In sucha large and malleable cavity, space utilization was thus different when a ligand was introduced before the imposition of crystal packing restraints. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Functional classifications of coastal barrier island vegetation

Abstract. Due to the complexity of coastal barrier vegetation, it is useful to apply a functional-type approach to assess the response of barrier island vegetation to climate change. In this paper, a simple clustering analysis is applied to a group of 19 plant associations, based on six plant attributes and six environmental constraints. This analysis results in the suggestion that the main division of the vegetation types at Virginia Coast Reserve is between herbaceous and woody types, which differs from the existing classification which recognizes three groups: xeric-mesic herbaceous, woody and hydric-halophytic herbaceous. Considerations about grouping plant functional types are also addressed in this paper. At a global scale, inclusion of barrier plant functional types may not be so important for the climate-change response of vegetation, but it may be necessary to consider these important systems for spatially explicit modelling of landscape responses.     

气候变化下中国八种梧桐属树种潜在适生区模拟

中国梧桐属（Firmiana）在世界梧桐属中占比较大，且除梧桐外其余种均为中国特有且分布范围狭窄的植物种，灭绝风险大，研究气候变化对中国梧桐属树种的影响对于维护生物多样性具有重要的意义。结合多时期第六次国际气候耦合模式比较计划（CMIP6）气候变量数据和中国八种梧桐属树种的分布数据，基于R语言kuenm程序包优化的最大熵（Maxent）模型模拟分析中国八种梧桐属树种在多尺度下的潜在适生区，得出梧桐属最适宜的模拟尺度、潜在适生区的面积变化和迁移方向、梧桐属多样性保护关键区域及保护空缺。结果表明：（1）梧桐属最适宜的模拟尺度为亚洲；（2） Maxent模型的接收者操作特征曲线下面积（AUC）值均大于0.9，表明模型对梧桐属潜在适生区预测结果具有较高准确度；（3）气候变化影响下除云南梧桐（Firmiana major）外其它树种的潜在适生区都将在未来有所扩大；（4）中国八种梧桐属树种潜在适生区迁移方向主要为东西向，南北向大跨度迁移较少，纬度变化不大；（5）丹霞梧桐（Firmiana danxiaensis）的稳定潜在适生区最小；（6）中国梧桐属多样性保护关键区域主要分布于广西壮族自治区及云南、广东、海南等省区；（7）中国梧桐属多样性保护空缺区域主要分布于广西壮族自治区中部及海南省北部；（8）梧桐属多样性保护关键区域正在为人造地表所侵蚀。研究分析气候变化对中国八种梧桐属树种的影响及其潜在适生区变化、中国梧桐属多样性保护状态，可为中国梧桐属建立多样性保护廊道提供相关建议，为制定多样性保护规划及相应措施提供参考。     

Temperature niche conservatism and strong genetic structure are involved in the trans-Panamanian colonization of Matudaea (Hamamelidaceae) to Andean forests

Matudaea is the only genus of the Hamamelidaceae found in South America. The genus is composed by two extant species, M. trinervia, from Mexico and Costa Rica, and Matudaea colombiana, from the Colombian Andes; additional fossil records are present in Central Europe. Population genetics, molecular phylogenetics and niche modelling approaches were applied to explain processes related with the trans-Panamanian M. trinervia/M. colombiana split and the putative colonization of the latter to the northern Andes. The split between the two Matudaea species was estimated during Middle Miocene. The colonization of Matudaea into South America could have been facilitated by the closure of the Isthmus of Panama and the global decreasing of temperature during Miocene. Five haplotypes of M. colombiana were identified, which show an eastwards decline of genetic diversity and suggest a founder effect in the colonization of Eastern cordillera of the Colombian Andes. We detected a niche conservatism signal between the two Matudaea species related with Temperature of Coldest Month and Mean Temperature of Driest Quarter bioclimatic variables; this signal might be related to the narrow altitudinal range occupied by the two species.