Impact of Temperature on Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Lanzhou Based on the Distributed Lag Model

The study mainly analyzed the relationship between temperature and the upper respiratory tract infections (URI) in Lanzhou. We collected the daily URI and meteorological data from 2010 to 2015. A distributed lag non-linear model was used to examine the relationship and potential effects of different temperatures and different lag days on the morbidity of URI. The results showed that the morbidity of URI was significantly related to the meteorological factors, and the peak of the onset of the disease usually occurred between November and February the next year. The correlation analysis was carried out between meteorological factors and URI cases, and the result revealed that the daily morbidity of URI in Lanzhou was related to air temperature, air pressure, and wind speed. The exposure effect curve of average daily temperature to different sex and different age groups in Lanzhou displayed an M-shaped. Temperature had a certain lag effect on the daily morbidity of URI. For low temperature, it appeared on the present day, and the maximum impact appeared at lag 2 days and persisted for 12 days. The female was more vulnerable than the male, and the impact was obvious in teenagers and the elderly and not obvious in adult. Meteorological factors play an important role in the occurrence of URI in Lanzhou, but the main factor is low temperature. Temperature can trigger the morbidity of URI directly; it can induce various symptoms of URI (such as cold, sore throat and rhinitis) and directly affect the distribution of URI in the population.     

Le « Moustérien » de Tipasa et de Ténès (littoral ouest algérois) dans la lecture climatique du second pléniglacaire

The excavations that we undertook, in 1985, in the prehistoric site of Sidi Saïd, in Tipasa (Algeria), allowed us to observe an unusual archaeological stratigraphy. An aterian industry with pedunculated pieces, surmounted by a Mousterian, rich in scrapers and single-sided retouching points, almost systematically in flint, with reduced shapes and strongly reduced (Aterian under Mousterian). This unusual case has led us to consider the reading of the Mousterian-Aterian/Ibéromaurusien passage in a different way and at the same time to take a new look at the work carried out so far on the west coast of Algiers, especially those of Lower cave of the Tenes lighthouse, west of Tipasa. An attempt to compare and correlate the site of Sidi Said and the Lower Cave of the Ténès lighthouse, enabled us to consolidate our conviction on the existence of an aterian stratigraphically below the Mousterian and to discover an original lithic industry of Mousterian tradition, with strongly reduced forms, which would be placed between stratigraphically between the Aterian and the Iberomaurusian. This industry which does not yet have a name or place in the chronology, “curiously” recalls the case of the Middle Solutrean of southwestern Europe, in the context of the second pleniglacial.     

Microtaphonomy of bioclasts and paleoecology of microencrusters from Upper Jurassic spongiolithic limestones (External Prebetic,Southern Spain)

Microencrusters and microtaphonomic features of the Oxfordian spongiolithic limestones of the External Prebetic were studied using thin-section analysis. The spongiolithic limestone is a bioclastic-rich packstone with common echinoderm, mollusc and brachiopod remains. The bioclasts show a high fragmentation index and frequent microborings. The encrustation index (E _i) is higher for fragments of serpulids, ammonoids and bivalves, and increases with the initial grain-size of bioclasts. The main microencrusters consist of benthic microbial communities (BMC) and nubeculariids, as well as subordinate calcareous and siliceous agglutinated foraminifera, serpulids and bryozoans. BMC are usually the first colonizers, and encrusting foraminifera mainly appear on bioclasts larger than 2 mm. BMC dominate in well-developed encrustations on upward facing surfaces of larger bioclasts that are also colonized by foraminifera (nubeculariids and Subdelloidina). Bullopora, serpulids and bryozoans are more common on lower surfaces. The fact that the values of encrustation index, encrustation thickness and diversity of the microencrusters increase with the size of bioclasts is related to a higher stability and exposure time of the available bioclastic substrate. The microencruster distribution on upper and lower surfaces of large bioclasts may be related to photic control, space competition and/or predation avoidance.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosselia socialis</Emphasis> in the Upper Marine Molasse of southwestern Germany

Sediments of the Miocene Upper Marine Molasse in southern Germany (southwestern Bavaria) represent a shallow marine, siliciclastic, and tide-influenced depositional environment. Three sections cutting through these sediments contain a distinct horizon of trace fossils. Preserved in a fine-grained quartz-sandstone are numerous more or less vertical burrows that are usually funnel-shaped, closely spaced, and locally branching. The burrows belong to the ichnospecies Rosselia socialis. The sequence-stratigraphic relevance of the Rosselia-horizons is discussed, and a hypothesis is put forward on the correlation of selected sections of the Upper Marine Molasse based on these layers.     

The Upper Pleistocene-Holocene raptorial bird guild from Eivissa Island (Pityusic Archipelago,Western Mediterranean Sea)

Predators are an essential component of past and present ecosystems and trophic networks. In addition, their role as bone bio-accumulators may at least partly determine the richness of fossil sites. Prior to human arrival, terrestrial mammals were absent from the Pityusic Archipelago (Eivissa and Formentera islands, Western Mediterranean Sea), a feature that represents an ecological singularity in the Mediterranean islands. The diurnal and nocturnal predatory bird guild from the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene of the Eivissa Island is approached here through the study of Accipitridae, Falconidae and Strigidae from Es Pouàs, an extraordinarily rich fossil site that provided more than two thousand bones of birds belonging to these three families. The importance of each species as bio-accumulator and a comparison with current fauna are outlined.     

Localization of minor elements by EDS microanalysis in aragonitic sponges from the St. Cassian Beds, Italian Dolomites

The minor elements Sr, S, K, Mg, Fe, and Mn were detected by election microprobe EDS (electron dispersive spectrometer) in small regions of the skeletal tissue of the Triassic sponges Sestrostomella robusta (Zittel), Hartmanina involuta (Klipstein), Atrochetetes medius Cuif & Fischer, Ceratoporella sp., and Eudea polymorpha (Klipstein) from Alpe di Specie (St. Cassian Beds, Dolomites, Italy). Data were compared with analyses of the modern sponges Astrosclera willeyana Lister from the Mozambique Channel and Ceratoporella nicholsoni (Hickson) from the Bahamas. Sr content in Triassic sponges (mean value 9,300 ± 600 ppm) is similar to the Sr content of Recent samples (mean value 8,500 ± 1,500 ppm). This concentration of Sr shows very slight biochemical fractionation like oolitic aragonite. It is therefore possible to infer that the Triassic sea of the St. Cassian Beds had the same Sr/Ca ratio and equal aragonitic depositional conditions as those presently found in the Bahamas and the Channel of Mozambique, i.e. warm shallow waters. Generally, we did not observe a preferential distribution of minor elements with respect to structure. Only when a lower concentration in the center of spherules is observed does a preferential distribution pattern seem to exist. This could mean an initial stage of Sr leaking indicative of an incipient diagenetic process (excluding experimental errors or morphological effects). Excluding these exceptions, the Alpe di Specie spongial fauna is surely diagenetically unaltered. The Sr content shows that the micritic microstructure of Eudea polymorpha is not due to a diagenetic process either. The constant, clearly detectable occurrence of sulphur (mean value 1,000 ppm) was observed. In addition, the S content was found to be linearly correlated with the strontium content. Sulphur is probably of primary organic origin.     

Alcohol consumption and risk of upper-tract urothelial cancer

BackgroundUpper-tract urothelial cancer (UTUC), which includes renal pelvic cancer and ureter cancer, is a rare cancer and its prognosis is poor. Smoking and high-risk occupations (e.g., printing and dyestuff working which involves exposure to aniline dyes) are well-known risk factors for UTUC. However, the risk of alcohol consumption in UTUC remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether alcohol consumption is an independent risk factor for UTUC.MethodsThe study was a case–control study which used the nationwide clinical inpatient database of the Rosai Hospital group in Japan. We identified 1569 cases and 506,797 controls between 1984 and 2014. We estimated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of alcohol consumption for UTUC – never, up to 15 g/day, >15–30 g/day, or >30 g/day – using unconditional logistic regression. We adjusted for the following covariates: age, sex, study period, hospital, history of smoking, and high-risk occupation.ResultsThe risk of UTUC was significantly higher in ever-drinkers compared with never-drinkers (OR = 1.23, 95%CI, 1.08–1.40; P = 0.001). Compared with never-drinkers, the risk threshold for UTUC was >15 g of alcohol consumption per day (equivalent to 6 ounces of Japanese sake containing 23 g of alcohol). A dose-response was observed (P < 0.001).ConclusionAlcohol consumption may be an independent risk factor for UTUC, with a low-risk threshold of 15 g of alcohol per day.     

The effects of upper limb posture and a sub-maximal gripping task on corticospinal excitability to muscles of the forearm

Variations in handgrip force influences shoulder muscle activity, and this effect is dependent upon upper limb position. Previous work suggests that neural coupling between proximal and distal muscles with changes in joint position is a possible mechanism but these studies tend to use artificially constrained postures that do not reflect activities of daily living. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of upper limb posture on corticospinal excitability to the forearm muscles during workplace relevant arm positions. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were elicited in four forearm muscles via transcranial magnetic stimulation at six arm positions (45°, 90° and 120° of humeral elevation in both the flexion and abduction planes). MEPs were delivered as stimulus–response curves (SRCs) at rest and at constant intensity during two gripping tasks. Boltzmann plateau levels were smaller for the flexor carpi radialis in flexion at 45° versus 90° (p = 0.0008). Extensor carpi radialis had a greater plateau during flexion than abduction (p = 0.0042). Corticospinal excitability to the forearm muscles were influenced by upper limb posture during both the resting and gripping conditions. This provides further evidence that upper limb movements are controlled as a whole rather than segmentally and is relevant for workplace design considerations.