Lifetime excess absolute risk for lung cancer due to exposure to radon: results of the pooled uranium miners cohort study PUMA

The Pooled Uranium Miners Analysis (PUMA) study is the largest uranium miners cohort with 119,709 miners, 4.3 million person-years at risk and 7754 lung cancer deaths. Excess relative rate (ERR) estimates for lung cancer mortality per unit of cumulative exposure to radon progeny in working level months (WLM) based on the PUMA study have been reported. The ERR/WLM was modified by attained age, time since exposure or age at exposure, and exposure rate. This pattern was found for the full PUMA cohort and the 1960 + sub-cohort, i.e., miners hired in 1960 or later with chronic low radon exposures and exposure rates. The aim of the present paper is to calculate the lifetime excess absolute risk (LEAR) of lung cancer mortality per WLM using the PUMA risk models, as well as risk models derived in previously published smaller uranium miner studies, some of which are included in PUMA. The same methods were applied for all risk models, i.e., relative risk projection up to <95 years of age, an exposure scenario of 2 WLM per year from age 18-64 years, and baseline mortality rates representing a mixed Euro-American-Asian population. Depending upon the choice of model, the estimated LEAR per WLM are 5.38 × 10-4 or 5.57 × 10-4 in the full PUMA cohort and 7.50 × 10-4 or 7.66 × 10-4 in the PUMA 1960 + sub-cohort, respectively. The LEAR per WLM estimates derived from risk models reported for previously published uranium miners studies range from 2.5 × 10-4 to 9.2 × 10-4. PUMA strengthens knowledge on the radon-related lung cancer LEAR, a useful way to translate models for policy purposes.

Updated risk models for lung cancer due to radon exposure in the German Wismut cohort of uranium miners, 1946-2018

UNSCEAR recently recommended that future research on the lung cancer risk at low radon exposures or exposure rates should focus on more contemporary uranium miners. For this purpose, risk models in the German Wismut cohort of uranium miners were updated extending the follow-up period by 5 years to 1946-2018. The full cohort (n = 58,972) and specifically the 1960 + sub-cohort of miners first hired in 1960 or later (n = 26,764) were analyzed. The 1960 + sub-cohort is characterized by low protracted radon exposure of high quality of measurements. Internal Poisson regression was used to estimate the excess relative risk (ERR) for lung cancer per cumulative radon exposure in Working Level Months (WLM). Applying the BEIR VI exposure-age-concentration model, the ERR/100 WLM was 2.50 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81; 4.18) and 6.92 (95% CI < 0; 16.59) among miners with attained age < 55 years, time since exposure 5-14 years, and annual exposure rates < 0.5 WL in the full (n = 4329 lung cancer deaths) and in the 1960 + sub-cohort (n = 663 lung cancer deaths), respectively. Both ERR/WLM decreased with older attained ages, increasing time since exposure, and higher exposure rates. Findings of the 1960 + sub-cohort are in line with those from large pooled studies, and ERR/WLM are about two times higher than in the full Wismut cohort. Notably, 20-30 years after closure of the Wismut mines in 1990, the estimated fraction of lung cancer deaths attributable to occupational radon exposure is still 26% in the full Wismut cohort and 19% in the 1960 + sub-cohort, respectively. This demonstrates the need for radiation protection against radon.

Non-inversion conservation tillage as an underestimated driver of tillage erosion

Tillage erosion is a widely underestimated process initiating soil degradation especially in case of large agricultural fields located in rolling topography. It is often assumed that, conservation, non-inversion tillage causes less tillage erosion than conventional inversion tillage. In this study, tillage erosion was determined on three paired plots comparing non-inversion chisel versus inversion mouldboard tillage. The experiments were performed at three sites in Northeast Germany with gentle, moderate, and steep slope, while tillage depth (0.25 m) and speed (≈ 6 km h^-1) were kept constant during all experiments. The results indicate that non-inversion tillage produces significantly more soil movement compared to inversion tillage. The soil translocation distance was by a factor of 1.3-2.1 larger in case of chisel tillage. The largest difference in translocation distance and tillage transport coefficient (k_til) was found on the gentle slope exhibiting the lowest soil cohesion. Our results together with an evaluation of k_til values derived from literature and standardised for 0.25 m tillage depth contradict the general assumption that non-inversion tillage reduces tillage erosion. In tillage erosion dominated areas, non-inversion tillage applied with high tillage speed and depth potentially increases tillage erosion and fails its purpose to serve as soil conservation measure.

Treatment with Anaerobutyricum soehngenii: a pilot study of safety and dose-response effects on glucose metabolism in human subjects with metabolic syndrome

Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota has been implicated in insulin resistance, although evidence regarding causality in humans is scarce. We performed a phase I/II dose-finding and safety study on the effect of oral intake of the anaerobic butyrogenic strain Anaerobutyricum soehngenii on glucose metabolism in 24 subjects with metabolic syndrome. We found that treatment with A. soehngenii was safe and observed a significant correlation between the measured fecal abundance of administered A. soehngenii and improvement in peripheral insulin sensitivity after 4 weeks of treatment. This was accompanied by an altered microbiota composition and a change in bile acid metabolism. Finally, we show that metabolic response upon administration of A. soehngenii (defined as improved insulin sensitivity 4 weeks after A. soehngenii intake) is dependent on microbiota composition at baseline. These data in humans are promising, but additional studies are needed to reproduce our findings and to investigate long-term effects, as well as other modes of delivery.

Neuronal tuning: Selective targeting of neuronal populations via manipulation of pulse width and directionality

INTRODUCTION

Motor evoked potentials (MEP) in response to anteroposterior transcranial (AP) magnetic stimulation (TMS) are sensitive to the TMS pulse shape. We are now able to isolate distinct pulse properties, such as pulse width and directionality and evaluate them individually. Different pulse shapes induce different effects, likely by stimulating different populations of neurons. This implies that not all neurons respond in the same manner to stimulation, possibly, because individual segments of neurons differ in their membrane properties.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect of different pulse widths and directionalities of TMS on MEP latencies, motor thresholds and plastic aftereffects of rTMS.

METHODS

Using a controllable pulse stimulator TMS (cTMS), we stimulated fifteen subjects with quasi-unidirectional TMS pulses of different pulse durations (40 μs, 80 μs and 120 μs) and determined thresholds and MEP AP latencies. We then compared the effects of 80 μs quasi-unidirectional pulses to those of 80 μs pulses with different pulse directionality characteristics (0.6 and 1.0 M ratios). We applied 900 pulses of the selected pulse shapes at 1 Hz.

RESULTS

The aftereffects of 1 Hz rTMS depended on pulse shape and duration. 40 and 80 μs wide unidirectional pulses induced inhibition, 120 μs wide pulses caused excitation. Bidirectional pulses induced inhibition during the stimulation but had facilitatory aftereffects. Narrower pulse shapes caused longer latencies and higher resting motor thresholds (RMT) as compared to wider pulse shapes.

CONCLUSIONS

We can tune the aftereffects of rTMS by manipulating pulse width and directionality; this may be due to the different membrane properties of the various neuronal segments such as dendrites.

SIGNIFICANCE

To date, rTMS frequency has been the main determinant of the plastic aftereffects. However, we showed that pulse width also plays a major role, probably by recruiting novel neuronal targets.

Single photon detection and signal analysis for high sensitivity dosimetry based on optically stimulated luminescence with beryllium oxide

Single photon detection applied to optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimetry is a promising approach due to the low level of luminescence light and the known statistical behavior of single photon events. Time resolved detection allows to apply a variety of different and independent data analysis methods. Furthermore, using amplitude modulated stimulation impresses time- and frequency information into the OSL light and therefore allows for additional means of analysis. Considering the impressed frequency information, data analysis by using Fourier transform algorithms or other digital filters can be used for separating the OSL signal from unwanted light or events generated by other phenomena. This potentially lowers the detection limits of low dose measurements and might improve the reproducibility and stability of obtained data. In this work, an OSL system based on a single photon detector, a fast and accurate stimulation unit and an FPGA is presented. Different analysis algorithms which are applied to the single photon data are discussed.

Balancing steric and electronic effects of bidentate, mixed P,N ligands to control Kumada catalyst transfer polycondensation of a sterically hindered thiophene

Screening various P,N ligands to control KCTP of a sterically hindered thiophene reveals an oxazoline-based ligand most effective.

ENVIRONMENTAL DOSIMETRY WITH THE BeOSL PERSONAL DOSEMETER

In the course of this work, a dosemeter for measurement of ambient dose equivalent H*(10) based on the BeOSL dosimetry system was designed. Calculations of the energy response of the two-element BeOSL personal dosemeter in terms of H*(10) showed that the response does not fulfil the requirements of IEC 62387 Especially, the response for photon energies of 60-100 keV is too low. It is possible to correct this under-response using a BeOSL two-element dosemeter, a linear algorithm and an additional cover for the dosemeter. The Hp(0.07) element is shielded with lead, and with the help of a linear algorithm, corrections of the energy response are possible. So, the national requirements for an H*(10) area dosemeter in Germany can be fulfilled. The requirements of IEC 62387 are fulfilled for angles of radiation incidence from 0° to 60° for a rotation around the vertical and horizontal axis through the dosemeter, whereas for angles of incidence from 75° to 90°, the requirements are only fulfilled for rotation around the vertical axis through both elements.

PROPERTIES OF THE BEOSL DOSIMETRY SYSTEM IN THE FRAMEWORK OF A LARGE-SCALE PERSONAL MONITORING SERVICE

The Individual Monitoring Service of the Helmholtz Zentrum München is currently using the BeOSL dosimetry system for monitoring ∼15 000 persons per month. This dosimetry system has a modular structure and represents a complete new concept on handling dosemeters in a large-scale dosimetry service. It is based on optically stimulated luminescence dosemeters made of beryllium oxide. The dosimetric and operational properties of the system are shown and discussed.

Potassium polytitanate gas-sensor study by impedance spectroscopy

Nanocrystalline potassium polytitanates K2O·nTiO2·mH2O represent a new type of semiconducting compounds which are characterized by a high specific surface that makes them promising for use in gas sensors. In this work, we have studied potassium polytitanate mesoporous nanoparticle agglomerates placed over a SiO2/Si substrate equipped with multiple coplanar electrodes to measure the electrical response to various organic vapors, 1000 ppm of concentration, mixed with air by impedance spectrometry in range of the 10(-2)-10(6) Hz. The recorded impedance data for each sensor segment are associated with RC components of an equivalent circuit which are applied to selectively recognize the test vapors exploiting a "multisensor array" approach.

Plasmonic-organic hybrid (POH) modulators for OOK and BPSK signaling at 40 Gbit/s

We report on high-speed plasmonic-organic hybrid Mach-Zehnder modulators comprising ultra-compact phase shifters with lengths as small as 19 µm. Choosing an optimum phase shifter length of 29 µm, we demonstrate 40 Gbit/s on-off keying (OOK) modulation with direct detection and a BER < 6 × 10(-4). Furthermore, we report on a 29 µm long binary-phase shift keying (BPSK) modulator and show that it operates error-free (BER < 1 × 10(-10)) at data rates up to 40 Gbit/s and with an energy consumption of 70 fJ/bit.

Same or different? ERP correlates of pretense and false belief reasoning in children

Pretend play, emerging at about 18 months, and explicit false belief (FB) understanding, arising around 4 years, constitute two pivotal milestones in the development of a Theory of Mind since both involve the ability to separate real from non-real content. The developmental lag has evoked vivid discussion with respect to whether or not pretense (PT) involves a metarepresentational understanding similar to FB. However, in children PT and FB have not yet been contrasted on a neural level to reveal whether they are subserved by the same neurocognitive mechanism. Therefore, the present event-related potential (ERP) study compared PT to a FB and to a non-mental control condition in 6- to 8-year-old children. Results revealed distinct ERP components for PT and FB. PT elicited a parietal P2, which was assumed to reflect the detection of incongruence, and a negative frontal slow wave (290-600 ms), which was associated with the identification of the intention underlying the pretend behavior. In contrast, FB evoked the characteristic positive fronto-central late slow wave (290-920 ms) that is supposed to indicate metarepresentation. Further, the broad distribution of the anterior slow-wave patterns associated with PT and FB reasoning was assumed to reflect the ongoing structural development and neural specialization of the respective areas, indicating the developmental progress in conceptualizing the mental domain. Given the differences in latency, polarity, and topography, PT and FB seem to rely on distinct neural substrates in children. The early negative frontal slow wave indicates that for PT reasoning children may use simple mentalizing processes such as intention processing, whereas the late positive slow-wave shows that for FB children may engage in metarepresentational processing. Therefore, the present findings seem to substantiate theoretical accounts postulating simple mentalistic reasoning for PT in children.

[Inpatient pain consultation service at a university hospital: a retrospective analysis of patient characteristics and the rate of the implementation of recommendations]

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to conduct an audit of a university inpatient pain consultation service and to examine the quality and the implementation of the recommended therapeutic measures. Factors that influenced the implementation should be identified.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All inpatients treated by the consultation service in the years 2009 and 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic patient characteristics as well as quality parameters of the consultation service and pharmacological and non-pharmacological recommendations and their implementation were analyzed.

RESULTS

In total 1,048 requests for the consultation service were processed of which 39.7% of the requests were for patients with acute pain, 33.8% with chronic and 19.9% with tumor-associated pain. Measures recommended most were medication, physiotherapy and psychological treatment. Recommended medications were actually prescribed in more than 80%, physiotherapy recommended in about 75% and psychological treatment recommended in 47% of the cases. Only a few influencing factors for the implementation of the recommended measures could be identified.

CONCLUSION

Many different pain states are seen in an inpatient pain consultation service. The recommendations given are implemented in most cases especially concerning the medication.

Fractionated Crystallization of Defect-Free Poly(3-hexylthiophene)

Fractionated crystallization (FC), a chain-sorting mechanism by length, is identified in well-defined, low molecular weight, and defect-free regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) by X-ray scattering and calorimetry of bulk samples. While wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) qualitatively suggests that the degree of crystallinity is similar in all investigated samples, the melting enthalpies are largely different. We ascribe this to intricacies in the integration of the melting and crystallization peaks in calorimetric experiments, which is caused by FC occurring over a large temperature range. The extent of FC decreases with increasing molecular weight and increases with increasing polydispersity. The temperature-dependent investigation of the long period L_P and the (100)-WAXS reflection of a sample in which FC is absent allows to disentangle effects from main-chain and side-chain crystallization.

The dicotyledonous NAD malic enzyme C4 plant Cleome gynandra displays age-dependent plasticity of C4 decarboxylation biochemistry

The C(4) photosynthetic pathway enriches carbon dioxide in the vicinity of Rubisco, thereby enabling plants to assimilate carbon more efficiently. Three canonical subtypes of C(4) exist, named after their main decarboxylating enzymes: NAD-dependent malic enzyme type, NADP-dependent malic enzyme type and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase type. Cleome gynandra is known to perform NAD-ME type C(4) photosynthesis. To further assess the mode of C(4) in C. gynandra and its manifestation in leaves of different age, total enzyme activities of eight C(4) -related enzymes and the relative abundance of 31 metabolites were measured. C. spinosa was used as a C(3) control. C. gynandra was confirmed as an NAD-ME type C(4) plant in mid-aged leaves, whereas a mixed NAD-ME and PEPCK type was observed in older leaves. Young leaves showed a C(3) -C(4) intermediate state with respect to enzyme activities and metabolite abundances. Comparative transcriptome analysis of mid-aged leaves of C. gynandra and C. spinosa showed that the transcript of only one aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) isoform is highly abundant in C. gynandra. However, the canonical model of the NAD-ME pathway requires two AspATs, a mitochondrial and a cytosolic isoform. Surprisingly, our results indicate the existence of only one highly abundant AspAT isoform. Using GFP-fusion, this isozyme was localised exclusively to mitochondria. We propose a revised model of NAD-ME type C(4) photosynthesis in C. gynandra, in which both AspAT catalysed reactions take place in mitochondria and PEPCK catalyses an alternative decarboxylating pathway.

Algebraic construction of a Nambu bracket for the two-dimensional vorticity equation

So far fluid mechanical Nambu brackets have mainly been given on an intuitive basis. Alternatively an algorithmic construction of such a bracket for the two-dimensional vorticity equation is presented here. Starting from the Lie-Poisson form and its algebraic properties it is shown how the Nambu representation can be explicitly constructed as the continuum limit from the structure preserving Zeitlin discretization.

Psychological and neuroendocrine responses to social stress and to the administration of the alpha-2-receptor antagonist, yohimbine, in highly trained endurance athletes in comparison to untrained healthy controls

INTRODUCTION

Several clinical studies suggest antidepressive and anxiolytic effects of regular endurance training. The mechanisms by which exercise exerts these effects are still unclear. It was hypothesized that athletes might show a diminished reaction to psychosocial stress and noradrenergic stimulation.

METHODS

12 male athletes and 12 healthy untrained male controls underwent a challenge paradigm on 3 separate days: the alpha-2-receptor antagonist yohimbine (0.4 mg/kg), placebo or a psychosocial stress test (SST) were administered. Responses were measured by psychometric scales, plasma cortisol, blood pressure and heart rate.

RESULTS

Before testing, psychometric variables and cortisol levels were not different between the 2 groups. In comparison to placebo conditions, both the social stress test and the administration of yohimbine were followed by significant increases of anxiety symptoms, plasma cortisol, heart rate and blood pressure in both groups. However, these responses were not significantly different between the group of athletes and the control group.

DISCUSSION

These results do not support the hypotheses that high aerobic fitness is associated with attenuated psychological and neuroendocrine responses to yohimbine or to psychosocial stress.