Heterogeneity and chronology of 6q15 deletion and ERG-fusion in prostate cancer.

Heterogeneity and chronology of 6q15 deletion and ERG-fusion in prostate cancer.

Oncotarget. 2015 Dec 14;

Authors: Kluth M, Meyer D, Krohn A, Freudenthaler F, Bauer M, Salomon G, Heinzer H, Michl U, Steurer S, Simon R, Sauter G, Schlomm T, Minner S

Abstract
Prostate cancer is notorious for its heterogeneity, which poses a problem for the applicability of diagnostic molecular markers. However, heterogeneity analysis can provide valuable information on the chronology in which molecular alterations arise. Here, we constructed a heterogeneity tissue microarray (TMA) comprising samples from 10 different tumor areas of 189 prostate cancers each in order to study the sequence of two frequent molecular alterations, i.e. 6q15 deletion and TMPRSS2:ERG fusion. Previous work shows a marked inverse relationship between these alterations, suggesting that presence of one of these alterations might impact development of the other. 6q15 deletion was analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization and ERG-expression by immunohistochemistry. Only 6.6% of 334 ERG-positive but 28.4% of 440 ERG-negative TMA spots showed 6q15 deletions (p < 0.0001). A breakdown of these data to the level of tumor foci revealed 6q deletions in 138 tumor foci that were large enough to have at least 3 analyzable TMA spots. These included 42 tumor foci with homogeneous ERG positivity and 16 with homogeneous 6q15 deletions. Remarkably, six of the 42 homogeneously ERG-positive tumor foci (14.3%) harbored small 6q15-deleted areas, but none of the 34 6q15-deleted foci showed areas of ERG positivity (p = 0.022). In conclusion, our data suggest that ERG-fusion can precede 6q15 deletion, but not vice versa. The complete absence of ERG-positive tumor areas in 6q15-deleted tumor foci further suggest that the functional consequences of 6q15 deletions may prevent the development of TMPRSS2:ERG fusions.

PMID: 26684029 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Adoptive immunotherapy using T lymphocytes redirected to glypican-3 for the treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Adoptive immunotherapy using T lymphocytes redirected to glypican-3 for the treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Oncotarget. 2015 Dec 14;

Authors: Li K, Pan X, Bi Y, Xu W, Chen C, Gao H, Shi B, Jiang H, Yang S, Jiang L, Li Z

Abstract
There are unmet medical needs for patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Therefore, in this study, we explored the antitumor potential of third-generation glypican 3 (GPC3)-redirected chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T lymphocytes (CARgpc3 T cells) in tumor models of LSCC. First, we demonstrated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) that GPC3 was expressed in 66.3% of LSCC samples and in 3.3% of lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) samples but not in normal lung tissues. In the presence of GPC3-positive LSCC cells, CARgpc3 T cells were highly activated and increased in number. CARgpc3 T cells could specifically lyse GPC3-positive LSCC cells in vitro. In two established LSCC xenograft models, CARgpc3 T cells could almost completely eliminate the growth of GPC3-positive cells. Additionally, the CARgpc3 T cells were able to persist in vivo and efficiently infiltrate the cancerous tissues. Taken together, these findings indicate that CARgpc3 T cells might be a novel potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of patients with LSCC.

PMID: 26684028 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Loss of E-cadherin disrupts ovarian epithelial inclusion cyst formation and collective cell movement in ovarian cancer cells.

Loss of E-cadherin disrupts ovarian epithelial inclusion cyst formation and collective cell movement in ovarian cancer cells.

Oncotarget. 2015 Dec 13;

Authors: Choi PW, Yang J, Ng SK, Feltmate C, Muto MG, Hasselblatt K, Lafferty-Whyte K, JeBailey L, MacConaill L, Welch WR, Fong WP, Berkowitz RS, Ng SW

Abstract
Increased inclusion cyst formation in the ovary is associated with ovarian cancer development. We employed in vitro three-dimensional (3D) organotypic models formed by normal human ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells and ovarian cancer cells to study the morphologies of normal and cancerous ovarian cortical inclusion cysts and the molecular changes during their transitions into stromal microenvironment. When compared with normal cysts that expressed tenascin, the cancerous cysts expressed high levels of laminin V and demonstrated polarized structures in Matrigel; and the cancer cells migrated collectively when the cyst structures were positioned in a stromal-like collagen I matrix. The molecular markers identified in the in vitro 3D models were verified in clinical samples. Network analysis of gene expression of the 3D structures indicates concurrent downregulation of transforming growth factor beta pathway genes and high levels of E-cadherin and microRNA200 (miR200) expression in the cancerous cysts and the migrating cancer cells. Transient silencing of E-cadherin expression in ovarian cancer cells disrupted cyst structures and inhibited collective cell migration. Taken together, our studies employing 3D models have shown that E-cadherin is crucial for ovarian inclusion cyst formation and collective cancer cell migration.

PMID: 26684027 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Combined analysis of circulating epithelial cells and serum thyroglobulin for distinguishing disease status of the patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Combined analysis of circulating epithelial cells and serum thyroglobulin for distinguishing disease status of the patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Oncotarget. 2015 Dec 13;

Authors: Lin HC, Liou MJ, Hsu HL, Hsieh JC, Chen YA, Tseng CP, Lin JD

Abstract
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) accounts for about 80% of the cases in thyroid cancer. Routine surveillance by serum thyroglobulin (Tg) and medical imaging is the current practice to monitor disease progression of the patients. Whether enumeration of circulating epithelial cells (CECs) helps to define disease status of PTC patients was investigated. CECs were enriched from the peripheral blood of the healthy control subjects (G1, n = 17) and the patients at disease-free status (G2, n = 26) or with distant metastasis (G3, n = 22). The number of CECs expressing epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) or thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) was determined by immunofluorescence microscopy analyses. The medium number of EpCAM+-CECs was 6 (intequartile range 1-11), 12 (interquartile range 7-16) and 91 (interquartile range 31-206) cells/ml of blood for G1, G2 and G3, respectively. EpCAM+-CEC counts were significantly higher in G3 than in G1 (p < 0.05) and G2 (p < 0.05). The medium number of TSHR+-CECs was 9 (intequartile range 3-13), 16 (interquartile range 10-24) and 100 (interquartile range 31-226) cells/ml of blood for G1, G2 and G3, respectively. The TSHR+-CEC counts also distinguished G3 from G1 (p < 0.05) and G2 (p < 0.05). With an appropriate cut off value of CEC count, the disease status for 97.9% (47/48) of the cases was clearly defined. Notably, the metastatic disease for all patients in G3 (22/22) was revealed by combined analysis of serum Tg and CEC. This study implicates that CEC testing can supplement the current standard methods for monitoring disease status of PTC.

PMID: 26684026 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Inside front cover continued (editorial board members)

Publication date: January 2016
Source:Biological Psychology, Volume 113





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Prognostic value of high EZH2 expression in patients with different types of cancer: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Prognostic value of high EZH2 expression in patients with different types of cancer: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Oncotarget. 2015 Dec 14;

Authors: Jiang T, Wang Y, Zhou F, Gao G, Ren S, Zhou C

Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) is a potential independent mechanism for epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes in cancer. We conducted an electronic search on PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane library to perform this up-to-date meta-analysis. Fifty-one studies with a total of 9444 patients were included. The prevalence of high EZH2 expression was 0.54 (95% CI: 0.47-0.61). High EZH2 expression was significantly associated with poorer prognosis [overall survival: HR 1.54 (95% CI: 1.30-1.78), P < 0.000; disease free survival: HR 1.35 (95% CI: 1.00-1.71), P < 0.000]. In breast cancer, high EZH2 expression correlated with histological types [OR: 1.53 (95CI: 1.13-2.06); P < 0.006], histological grade [OR: 1.62 (95CI: 1.35-1.95); P < 0.000], estrogen receptor (ER) negativity [OR: 2.05 (95CI: 1.67-2.52); P < 0.000], progesterone receptor (PgR) negativity [OR: 1.42 (95CI: 1.03-1.96); P = 0.034], HER-2 positivity [OR: 1.35 (95CI: 1.08-1.69); P = 0.009], and high p53 expression [OR: 1.66 (95CI: 1.07-2.59); P = 0.024]. These results suggest that high EZH2 expression may be a promising prognostic factor to different cancers. High EZH2 expression tends to correlate with pathological types, histological grade, ER negativity, PgR negativity, HER-2 positivity and p53 high expression in breast cancer.

PMID: 26683709 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Editorial board

Publication date: January 2016
Source:Biological Psychology, Volume 113





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Distractibility as a Precursor to Anxiety: Preexisting Attentional Control Deficits Predict Subsequent Autonomic Arousal During Anxiety

Publication date: Available online 19 December 2015
Source:Biological Psychology
Author(s): Jeffrey L. Birk, Philipp C. Opitz, Heather L. Urry
Low attentional control (AC) and high anxiety are closely linked. Researchers often presume that high anxiety reduces AC; however, the reverse causal possibility – that low AC increases anxiety – is equally plausible. We addressed this question in people with elevated trait anxiety by evaluating the temporal precedence of the AC-anxiety association. We tested whether autonomic arousal (electrodermal activity) and subjective anxiety elicited by an anxiety induction were associated more strongly with AC measured either pre-induction (N = 40) or post-induction (N = 38). Low AC was indexed by distractibility during a visual search task requiring attentional inhibition of emotionally neutral distractors. Higher distractibility predicted higher autonomic activation but not higher increases in self-reported anxiety. Critically, this AC-anxiety association occurred for pre-induction but not post-induction AC. The results suggest that low AC may heighten subsequent anxious arousal. By implication, treatment interventions should specifically enhance AC to alleviate anxiety.



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The Impact of Death Education on Fear of Death and Death Anxiety Among Human Services Students.

Authors: McClatchey IS, King S Abstract Human services professionals will undoubtedly work with the dying and bereaved populations at one time or other. Yet, they are poorly prepared to do so since death education, that is, lessons about the human and emotional aspects of death, its implications, and subsequent bereavement issues, is often not part of their curriculum. This nonequivalent comparison group study (N = 86) examined death fear and death anxiety among human services students before and after receiving death education using the Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale. The results showed a statistically significant decrease in death anxiety among the group of students who participated in death education compared to those who did not. PMID: 26665963 [PubMed – in process] (…

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A Systematic Review of the Peer-Reviewed Literature on Self-Blame, Guilt, and Shame.

Authors: Duncan C, Cacciatore J Abstract This is the first systematic review of the evidence on the prevalence of self-blame, guilt, and shame in bereaved parents. A search of PsychINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PubMed, and Science Direct resulted in 18 studies for the period 1975 to 2013 which the authors have appraised. Self-blame, guilt, and shame are common in bereaved parents, albeit to varying degrees, with differential relationships to sex, and diminishing over time. There is some evidence that guilt and shame predict more intense grief reactions and that self-blame predicts posttraumatic symptomology, anxiety, and depression in bereaved parents. Heterogeneity of the studies and numerous methodological concerns limit the synthesis and strength of the evidence and the general…

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Erratum to: A new anatomic trait for identifying the mendosal suture in young children: the mendosal–lambdoidal angle

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Opposite seasonality of the aerosol optical depth and the surface particulate matter concentration over the north China Plain

Publication date: February 2016
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 127
Author(s): Wenjun Qu, Jun Wang, Xiaoye Zhang, Lifang Sheng, Wencai Wang
Great difference exists in the aerosol optical depth (AOD) between summer and winter over the North China Plain (NCP). Monthly mean AOD at 550 nm derived from the MODIS (MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) products during 2000–2014 over the area of 30–40° N and 110–125° E exhibits an annual maximum in June (0.855 ± 0.130) and a minimum in December (0.381 ± 0.032). This seasonality of AOD is in the opposite phase with the surface particulate matter (PM) concentration (higher in winter and lower in summer). The possible causes for the higher AOD in June (compared with December) include (a) a higher boundary layer height (BLH) that results in more efficient transport and mixing of aerosol particles to a higher altitude (corresponding to a lower particle concentration near surface) as revealed by the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations profile, (b) a higher relative humidity (RH) due to the inshore monsoon circulation that leads to enhancement of aerosol extinction, (c) emission from the regional open stalk burning in the summer harvest season (as seen from MODIS fire products), and (d) the typical eastward open topographical basin over NCP. Under the assumption that the aerosol and water vapor are well mixed within the boundary layer, analysis on multi-year average shows that the differences in BLH, RH and surface PM concentration can explain up to 81% of the variance of monthly averaged AOD over NCP. A preliminarily hypothesis is also suggested to interpret the shift of AOD pattern from winter to summer with an abrupt increase of AOD from May to June, as well as an increase of surface PM2.5 concentration over NCP during the early phase of northward progress of the East Asia summer monsoon front.

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Medical management of an ovarian ectopic pregnancy: a case report

Abstract

Background

Primary ovarian ectopic pregnancy is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy which has an estimated prevalence ranging from 1:7000 to 1:70,000 accounting for almost 3 % of all ectopic cases. Here we report the case of a 25-year-old woman who presented to our clinic with abdominal pain, 6 weeks' delay of menstruation and 3 days of vaginal bleeding, whose transvaginal ultrasonography showed an ectopic gestational sac with yolk sac inside, in her right ovary. This case shows that early diagnosis is very important particularly in places like the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.

Case presentation

A 25-year-old African woman was referred to our clinic with 6 weeks' delay of menstruation, frequent increasing abdominal pain and 3 days of vaginal bleeding. Her general condition was good and her vital signs were normal. She felt tenderness in an abdominal examination and had a small amount of vaginal bleeding. Transvaginal ultrasonography showed an ectopic gestational sac with yolk sac inside, in her right ovary. Our final diagnosis was ectopic ovarian pregnancy and we successfully treated her with methotrexate. After 3 weeks of methotrexate administration her beta human chorionic gonadotropin was negative and a sonographic examination was completely normal.

Conclusions

Ectopic ovarian pregnancy is a very important medical situation. It should be diagnosed in its early stages otherwise it could be life-threatening and surgical treatment may be inevitable. Because of the importance of fertility, medical treatment is an acceptable option and can be feasible with early diagnosis.

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Erratum to: A new anatomic trait for identifying the mendosal suture in young children: the mendosal–lambdoidal angle

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Bayes classifiers for imbalanced traffic accidents datasets

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 88
Author(s): Randa Oqab Mujalli, Griselda López, Laura Garach
Traffic accidents data sets are usually imbalanced, where the number of instances classified under the killed or severe injuries class (minority) is much lower than those classified under the slight injuries class (majority). This, however, supposes a challenging problem for classification algorithms and may cause obtaining a model that well cover the slight injuries instances whereas the killed or severe injuries instances are misclassified frequently. Based on traffic accidents data collected on urban and suburban roads in Jordan for three years (2009–2011); three different data balancing techniques were used: under-sampling which removes some instances of the majority class, oversampling which creates new instances of the minority class and a mix technique that combines both. In addition, different Bayes classifiers were compared for the different imbalanced and balanced data sets: Averaged One-Dependence Estimators, Weightily Average One-Dependence Estimators, and Bayesian networks in order to identify factors that affect the severity of an accident. The results indicated that using the balanced data sets, especially those created using oversampling techniques, with Bayesian networks improved classifying a traffic accident according to its severity and reduced the misclassification of killed and severe injuries instances. On the other hand, the following variables were found to contribute to the occurrence of a killed causality or a severe injury in a traffic accident: number of vehicles involved, accident pattern, number of directions, accident type, lighting, surface condition, and speed limit. This work, to the knowledge of the authors, is the first that aims at analyzing historical data records for traffic accidents occurring in Jordan and the first to apply balancing techniques to analyze injury severity of traffic accidents.

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Driving anger in Ukraine: Appraisals, not trait driving anger, predict anger intensity while driving

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 88
Author(s): A.N. Stephens, T. Hill, M.J.M. Sullman
Trait driving anger is often, but not always, found to predict both the intensity of anger while driving and subsequent crash-related behaviours. However, a number of studies have not found support for a direct relationship between one's tendency to become angry and anger reported while driving, suggesting that other factors may mediate this relationship. The present self-report study investigated whether, in anger provoking driving situations, the appraisals made by drivers influence the relationship between trait and state anger. A sample of 339 drivers from Ukraine completed the 33-item version of the Driver Anger Scale (DAS; Deffenbacher et al., 1994) and eight questions about their most recent experience of driving anger. A structural equation model found that the intensity of anger experienced was predicted by the negative evaluations of the situation, which was in turn predicted by trait driving anger. However, trait driving anger itself did not predict anger intensity; supporting the hypothesis that evaluations of the driving situation mediate the relationship between trait and state anger. Further, the unique structure of the DAS required to fit the data from the Ukrainian sample, may indicate that the anger inducing situations in Ukraine are different to those of a more developed country. Future research is needed to investigate driving anger in Ukraine in a broader sample and also to confirm the role of the appraisal process in the development of driving anger in both developed and undeveloped countries.

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Mechanisms of magnesium-induced vasodilation in cerebral penetrating arterioles.

Publication date: Available online 19 December 2015
Source:Neuroscience Research
Author(s): Takahiro Murata, Hans H. Dietrich, Tetsuyoshi Horiuchi, Kazuhiro Hongo, Ralph G. Dacey
We investigated in cerebral penetrating arterioles the signaling mechanisms and dose-dependency of extracellular magnesium-induced vasodilation and also its vasodilatory effects in vessels preconstricted with agonists associated with delayed cerebral vasospasm following SAH. Male rat penetrating arterioles were cannulated. Their internal diameters were monitored. To investigate mechanisms of magnesium-induced vasodilation, inhibitors of endothelial function, potassium channels and endothelial impairment were tested. To simulate cerebral vasospasm we applied several spasmogenic agonists. Increased extracellular magnesium concentration produced concentration-dependent vasodilation, which was partially attenuated by non-specific calcium-sensitive potassium channel inhibitor tetraethylammonium, but not by other potassium channel inhibitors. Neither the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NNA nor endothelial impairment induced by air embolism reduced the dilation. Although the magnesium-induced vasodilation was slightly attenuated by the spasmogen ET-1, neither application of PF2α nor TXA2 analog effect the vasodilation. Magnesium induced a concentration- and smooth muscle cell-dependent dilation in cerebral penetrating arterioles. Calcium-sensitive potassium channels of smooth muscle cells may play a key role in magnesium-induced vasodilation. Magnesium also dilated endothelium-impaired vessels as well as vessels preconstricted with spasmogenic agonists. These results provide a fundamental background for the clinical use of magnesium, especially in treatment against delayed cerebral ischemia or vasospasm following SAH.



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Mechanisms of magnesium-induced vasodilation in cerebral penetrating arterioles.

Publication date: Available online 19 December 2015
Source:Neuroscience Research
Author(s): Takahiro Murata, Hans H. Dietrich, Tetsuyoshi Horiuchi, Kazuhiro Hongo, Ralph G. Dacey
We investigated in cerebral penetrating arterioles the signaling mechanisms and dose-dependency of extracellular magnesium-induced vasodilation and also its vasodilatory effects in vessels preconstricted with agonists associated with delayed cerebral vasospasm following SAH. Male rat penetrating arterioles were cannulated. Their internal diameters were monitored. To investigate mechanisms of magnesium-induced vasodilation, inhibitors of endothelial function, potassium channels and endothelial impairment were tested. To simulate cerebral vasospasm we applied several spasmogenic agonists. Increased extracellular magnesium concentration produced concentration-dependent vasodilation, which was partially attenuated by non-specific calcium-sensitive potassium channel inhibitor tetraethylammonium, but not by other potassium channel inhibitors. Neither the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NNA nor endothelial impairment induced by air embolism reduced the dilation. Although the magnesium-induced vasodilation was slightly attenuated by the spasmogen ET-1, neither application of PF2α nor TXA2 analog effect the vasodilation. Magnesium induced a concentration- and smooth muscle cell-dependent dilation in cerebral penetrating arterioles. Calcium-sensitive potassium channels of smooth muscle cells may play a key role in magnesium-induced vasodilation. Magnesium also dilated endothelium-impaired vessels as well as vessels preconstricted with spasmogenic agonists. These results provide a fundamental background for the clinical use of magnesium, especially in treatment against delayed cerebral ischemia or vasospasm following SAH.

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Mechanisms of magnesium-induced vasodilation in cerebral penetrating arterioles.

Publication date: Available online 19 December 2015
Source:Neuroscience Research
Author(s): Takahiro Murata, Hans H. Dietrich, Tetsuyoshi Horiuchi, Kazuhiro Hongo, Ralph G. Dacey
We investigated in cerebral penetrating arterioles the signaling mechanisms and dose-dependency of extracellular magnesium-induced vasodilation and also its vasodilatory effects in vessels preconstricted with agonists associated with delayed cerebral vasospasm following SAH. Male rat penetrating arterioles were cannulated. Their internal diameters were monitored. To investigate mechanisms of magnesium-induced vasodilation, inhibitors of endothelial function, potassium channels and endothelial impairment were tested. To simulate cerebral vasospasm we applied several spasmogenic agonists. Increased extracellular magnesium concentration produced concentration-dependent vasodilation, which was partially attenuated by non-specific calcium-sensitive potassium channel inhibitor tetraethylammonium, but not by other potassium channel inhibitors. Neither the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NNA nor endothelial impairment induced by air embolism reduced the dilation. Although the magnesium-induced vasodilation was slightly attenuated by the spasmogen ET-1, neither application of PF2α nor TXA2 analog effect the vasodilation. Magnesium induced a concentration- and smooth muscle cell-dependent dilation in cerebral penetrating arterioles. Calcium-sensitive potassium channels of smooth muscle cells may play a key role in magnesium-induced vasodilation. Magnesium also dilated endothelium-impaired vessels as well as vessels preconstricted with spasmogenic agonists. These results provide a fundamental background for the clinical use of magnesium, especially in treatment against delayed cerebral ischemia or vasospasm following SAH.



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Bayes classifiers for imbalanced traffic accidents datasets

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 88
Author(s): Randa Oqab Mujalli, Griselda López, Laura Garach
Traffic accidents data sets are usually imbalanced, where the number of instances classified under the killed or severe injuries class (minority) is much lower than those classified under the slight injuries class (majority). This, however, supposes a challenging problem for classification algorithms and may cause obtaining a model that well cover the slight injuries instances whereas the killed or severe injuries instances are misclassified frequently. Based on traffic accidents data collected on urban and suburban roads in Jordan for three years (2009–2011); three different data balancing techniques were used: under-sampling which removes some instances of the majority class, oversampling which creates new instances of the minority class and a mix technique that combines both. In addition, different Bayes classifiers were compared for the different imbalanced and balanced data sets: Averaged One-Dependence Estimators, Weightily Average One-Dependence Estimators, and Bayesian networks in order to identify factors that affect the severity of an accident. The results indicated that using the balanced data sets, especially those created using oversampling techniques, with Bayesian networks improved classifying a traffic accident according to its severity and reduced the misclassification of killed and severe injuries instances. On the other hand, the following variables were found to contribute to the occurrence of a killed causality or a severe injury in a traffic accident: number of vehicles involved, accident pattern, number of directions, accident type, lighting, surface condition, and speed limit. This work, to the knowledge of the authors, is the first that aims at analyzing historical data records for traffic accidents occurring in Jordan and the first to apply balancing techniques to analyze injury severity of traffic accidents.

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Driving anger in Ukraine: Appraisals, not trait driving anger, predict anger intensity while driving

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 88
Author(s): A.N. Stephens, T. Hill, M.J.M. Sullman
Trait driving anger is often, but not always, found to predict both the intensity of anger while driving and subsequent crash-related behaviours. However, a number of studies have not found support for a direct relationship between one's tendency to become angry and anger reported while driving, suggesting that other factors may mediate this relationship. The present self-report study investigated whether, in anger provoking driving situations, the appraisals made by drivers influence the relationship between trait and state anger. A sample of 339 drivers from Ukraine completed the 33-item version of the Driver Anger Scale (DAS; Deffenbacher et al., 1994) and eight questions about their most recent experience of driving anger. A structural equation model found that the intensity of anger experienced was predicted by the negative evaluations of the situation, which was in turn predicted by trait driving anger. However, trait driving anger itself did not predict anger intensity; supporting the hypothesis that evaluations of the driving situation mediate the relationship between trait and state anger. Further, the unique structure of the DAS required to fit the data from the Ukrainian sample, may indicate that the anger inducing situations in Ukraine are different to those of a more developed country. Future research is needed to investigate driving anger in Ukraine in a broader sample and also to confirm the role of the appraisal process in the development of driving anger in both developed and undeveloped countries.

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How the choice of safety performance function affects the identification of important crash prediction variables

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 88
Author(s): Ketong Wang, Jenna Simandl, Michael D. Porter, Andrew Graettinger, Randy Smith
Across the nation, researchers and transportation engineers are developing safety performance functions (SPFs) to predict crash rates and develop crash modification factors to improve traffic safety at roadway segments and intersections. Generalized linear models (GLMs), such as Poisson or negative binomial regression, are most commonly used to develop SPFs with annual average daily traffic as the primary roadway characteristic to predict crashes. However, while more complex to interpret, data mining models such as boosted regression trees have improved upon GLMs crash prediction performance due to their ability to handle more data characteristics, accommodate non-linearities, and include interaction effects between the characteristics.An intersection data inventory of 36 safety relevant parameters for three- and four-legged non-signalized intersections along state routes in Alabama was used to study the importance of intersection characteristics on crash rate and the interaction effects between key characteristics. Four different SPFs were investigated and compared: Poisson regression, negative binomial regression, regularized generalized linear model, and boosted regression trees. The models did not agree on which intersection characteristics were most related to the crash rate. The boosted regression tree model significantly outperformed the other models and identified several intersection characteristics as having strong interaction effects.

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How the choice of safety performance function affects the identification of important crash prediction variables

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 88
Author(s): Ketong Wang, Jenna Simandl, Michael D. Porter, Andrew Graettinger, Randy Smith
Across the nation, researchers and transportation engineers are developing safety performance functions (SPFs) to predict crash rates and develop crash modification factors to improve traffic safety at roadway segments and intersections. Generalized linear models (GLMs), such as Poisson or negative binomial regression, are most commonly used to develop SPFs with annual average daily traffic as the primary roadway characteristic to predict crashes. However, while more complex to interpret, data mining models such as boosted regression trees have improved upon GLMs crash prediction performance due to their ability to handle more data characteristics, accommodate non-linearities, and include interaction effects between the characteristics.An intersection data inventory of 36 safety relevant parameters for three- and four-legged non-signalized intersections along state routes in Alabama was used to study the importance of intersection characteristics on crash rate and the interaction effects between key characteristics. Four different SPFs were investigated and compared: Poisson regression, negative binomial regression, regularized generalized linear model, and boosted regression trees. The models did not agree on which intersection characteristics were most related to the crash rate. The boosted regression tree model significantly outperformed the other models and identified several intersection characteristics as having strong interaction effects.

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Predicting crash risk and identifying crash precursors on Korean expressways using loop detector data

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 88
Author(s): Ho-Chan Kwak, Seungyoung Kho
In order to improve traffic safety on expressways, it is important to develop proactive safety management strategies with consideration for segment types and traffic flow states because crash mechanisms have some differences by each condition. The primary objective of this study is to develop real-time crash risk prediction models for different segment types and traffic flow states on expressways. The mainline of expressways is divided into basic segment and ramp vicinity, and the traffic flow states are classified into uncongested and congested conditions. Also, Korean expressways have irregular intervals between loop detector stations. Therefore, we investigated on the effect and application of the detector stations at irregular intervals for the crash risk prediction on expressways. The most significant traffic variables were selected by conditional logistic regression analysis which could control confounding factors. Based on the selected traffic variables, separate models to predict crash risk were developed using genetic programming technique. The model estimation results showed that the traffic flow characteristics leading to crashes are differed by segment type and traffic flow state. Especially, the variables related to the intervals between detector stations had a significant influence on crash risk prediction under the uncongested condition. Finally, compared with the single model for all crashes and the logistic models used in previous studies, the proposed models showed higher prediction performance. The results of this study can be applied to develop more effective proactive safety management strategies for different segment types and traffic flow states on expressways with loop detector stations at irregular intervals.

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Driving anger in Ukraine: Appraisals, not trait driving anger, predict anger intensity while driving

Publication date: March 2016
Source:Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 88
Author(s): A.N. Stephens, T. Hill, M.J.M. Sullman
Trait driving anger is often, but not always, found to predict both the intensity of anger while driving and subsequent crash-related behaviours. However, a number of studies have not found support for a direct relationship between one's tendency to become angry and anger reported while driving, suggesting that other factors may mediate this relationship. The present self-report study investigated whether, in anger provoking driving situations, the appraisals made by drivers influence the relationship between trait and state anger. A sample of 339 drivers from Ukraine completed the 33-item version of the Driver Anger Scale (DAS; Deffenbacher et al., 1994) and eight questions about their most recent experience of driving anger. A structural equation model found that the intensity of anger experienced was predicted by the negative evaluations of the situation, which was in turn predicted by trait driving anger. However, trait driving anger itself did not predict anger intensity; supporting the hypothesis that evaluations of the driving situation mediate the relationship between trait and state anger. Further, the unique structure of the DAS required to fit the data from the Ukrainian sample, may indicate that the anger inducing situations in Ukraine are different to those of a more developed country. Future research is needed to investigate driving anger in Ukraine in a broader sample and also to confirm the role of the appraisal process in the development of driving anger in both developed and undeveloped countries.

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Predictors of asthma exacerbation among patients with poorly controlled asthma despite inhaled corticosteroid treatment

Publication date: Available online 19 December 2015
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Wilson Quezada, Eun Soo Kwak, Joan Reibman, Linda Rogers, John Mastronarde, William G. Teague, Christine Wei, Janet T. Holbrook, Emily DiMango
BackgroundAsthma exacerbations are associated with decreased quality of life and increased health care usage. Identification of characteristics that predict increased risk of future exacerbations in patients with suboptimal control of asthma could guide treatment decisions.ObjectiveTo examine patient characteristics associated with risk of asthma exacerbations in patients with uncontrolled persistent asthma.MethodsA retrospective analysis of adults and children with inadequately controlled asthma despite asthma controller therapy and enrolled in 2 randomized trials was conducted. Baseline characteristics of subjects who experienced an asthma exacerbation during the treatment period were compared with those of subjects who did not experience an exacerbation.ResultsOf 718 subjects (402 adults and 295 children), 108 adults (27%) and 110 children (37%) experienced an asthma exacerbation during the study period. Unscheduled health care visits for asthma or use of oral corticosteroids in the previous year were significantly associated with asthma exacerbation during the study period (P < .01). Adult subjects who experienced an exacerbation had significantly lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second compared with those who did not (2.3 vs 2.5 L, respectively, P = .02). Children who experienced an exacerbation had lower baseline pre- and post-bronchodilator ratios of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (77% vs 81%, P < .01; 82% vs 86%, P < .001, respectively). Symptom scores on validated questionnaires were significantly worse in adults but not in children who developed an exacerbation.ConclusionSpirometric measurements can help identify adults and children at increased risk for asthma exacerbation. Symptom scores could be helpful in identifying adults who are at high risk for exacerbations but could be less helpful in children.

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Medical management of an ovarian ectopic pregnancy: a case report

Abstract

Background

Primary ovarian ectopic pregnancy is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy which has an estimated prevalence ranging from 1:7000 to 1:70,000 accounting for almost 3 % of all ectopic cases. Here we report the case of a 25-year-old woman who presented to our clinic with abdominal pain, 6 weeks' delay of menstruation and 3 days of vaginal bleeding, whose transvaginal ultrasonography showed an ectopic gestational sac with yolk sac inside, in her right ovary. This case shows that early diagnosis is very important particularly in places like the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.

Case presentation

A 25-year-old African woman was referred to our clinic with 6 weeks' delay of menstruation, frequent increasing abdominal pain and 3 days of vaginal bleeding. Her general condition was good and her vital signs were normal. She felt tenderness in an abdominal examination and had a small amount of vaginal bleeding. Transvaginal ultrasonography showed an ectopic gestational sac with yolk sac inside, in her right ovary. Our final diagnosis was ectopic ovarian pregnancy and we successfully treated her with methotrexate. After 3 weeks of methotrexate administration her beta human chorionic gonadotropin was negative and a sonographic examination was completely normal.

Conclusions

Ectopic ovarian pregnancy is a very important medical situation. It should be diagnosed in its early stages otherwise it could be life-threatening and surgical treatment may be inevitable. Because of the importance of fertility, medical treatment is an acceptable option and can be feasible with early diagnosis.

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210Bi – from interference to advantage in 210Pb determination with liquid scintillation counter

Publication date: Available online 19 December 2015
Source:Applied Radiation and Isotopes
Author(s): Marko Štrok, Borut Smodiš, Darja Mazej
A novel method for determination of 210Pb activity concentration using a liquid scintillation counter (LSC) in environmental samples is presented. After radiochemical separation of 210Pb on Eichrom Sr Resin column, the decay product 210Bi starts to in-grow and interfere with the 210Pb during measurement with LSC. Instead of eliminating this interference, a novel method utilizes 210Bi in-growth to improve the detection efficiency and subsequently to lower the minimum detectable activity (MDA). This allows for substantial reduction of the MDA compared to conventional methods.

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Predictors of asthma exacerbation among patients with poorly controlled asthma despite inhaled corticosteroid treatment

Publication date: Available online 19 December 2015
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Wilson Quezada, Eun Soo Kwak, Joan Reibman, Linda Rogers, John Mastronarde, William G. Teague, Christine Wei, Janet T. Holbrook, Emily DiMango
BackgroundAsthma exacerbations are associated with decreased quality of life and increased health care usage. Identification of characteristics that predict increased risk of future exacerbations in patients with suboptimal control of asthma could guide treatment decisions.ObjectiveTo examine patient characteristics associated with risk of asthma exacerbations in patients with uncontrolled persistent asthma.MethodsA retrospective analysis of adults and children with inadequately controlled asthma despite asthma controller therapy and enrolled in 2 randomized trials was conducted. Baseline characteristics of subjects who experienced an asthma exacerbation during the treatment period were compared with those of subjects who did not experience an exacerbation.ResultsOf 718 subjects (402 adults and 295 children), 108 adults (27%) and 110 children (37%) experienced an asthma exacerbation during the study period. Unscheduled health care visits for asthma or use of oral corticosteroids in the previous year were significantly associated with asthma exacerbation during the study period (P < .01). Adult subjects who experienced an exacerbation had significantly lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second compared with those who did not (2.3 vs 2.5 L, respectively, P = .02). Children who experienced an exacerbation had lower baseline pre- and post-bronchodilator ratios of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (77% vs 81%, P < .01; 82% vs 86%, P < .001, respectively). Symptom scores on validated questionnaires were significantly worse in adults but not in children who developed an exacerbation.ConclusionSpirometric measurements can help identify adults and children at increased risk for asthma exacerbation. Symptom scores could be helpful in identifying adults who are at high risk for exacerbations but could be less helpful in children.

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Medical management of an ovarian ectopic pregnancy: a case report

Abstract

Background

Primary ovarian ectopic pregnancy is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy which has an estimated prevalence ranging from 1:7000 to 1:70,000 accounting for almost 3 % of all ectopic cases. Here we report the case of a 25-year-old woman who presented to our clinic with abdominal pain, 6 weeks' delay of menstruation and 3 days of vaginal bleeding, whose transvaginal ultrasonography showed an ectopic gestational sac with yolk sac inside, in her right ovary. This case shows that early diagnosis is very important particularly in places like the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.

Case presentation

A 25-year-old African woman was referred to our clinic with 6 weeks' delay of menstruation, frequent increasing abdominal pain and 3 days of vaginal bleeding. Her general condition was good and her vital signs were normal. She felt tenderness in an abdominal examination and had a small amount of vaginal bleeding. Transvaginal ultrasonography showed an ectopic gestational sac with yolk sac inside, in her right ovary. Our final diagnosis was ectopic ovarian pregnancy and we successfully treated her with methotrexate. After 3 weeks of methotrexate administration her beta human chorionic gonadotropin was negative and a sonographic examination was completely normal.

Conclusions

Ectopic ovarian pregnancy is a very important medical situation. It should be diagnosed in its early stages otherwise it could be life-threatening and surgical treatment may be inevitable. Because of the importance of fertility, medical treatment is an acceptable option and can be feasible with early diagnosis.

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High-volume hemofiltration combined with early-goal-directed therapy improves alveolar-arterial oxygen exchange in patients with refractory septic shock

This study is to evaluate the effect of high-volume hemofiltration (HVHF) and early-goal-directed therapy (EGDT) on alveolar-arterial oxygen exchange in patients with refractory septic shock. Patients were classified into two groups by a prospective cohort study: 86 received both HVHF and EGDT (the HVHF group), and 81 treated with EGDT only (the control group). Alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure was taken at baseline and at days 1, 3, and 7, and respiratory index (RI, ratio of PaO2 alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference (PA-aDO2) to arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2)) was calculated. Results showed that at day 7, the levels of central venous and arterial blood oxygen content were significantly higher in the HVHF vs. the control group (both with p < 0.05). The level of oxygen extraction ratio (O2ER) was significantly higher in the HVHF than the control group (p < 0.01). The levels of PA-aDO2 and RI were significantly lower in the HVHF than the control group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). RI and the ratio of PaO2 to fraction of inspired oxygen were significantly higher in the HVHF than the control group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score and the sequential organ failure assessment score in the HVHF group were significantly lower compared to the control group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). At day 28, the mortality rate was lower in the HVHF vs. the control group (p < 0.01).

These findings demonstrated that HVHF, when used as an adjunctive therapy to the EGDP protocol, could improve alveolar-arterial oxygen exchange, clinical outcome and survival in patients with refractory septic shock.

L'articolo High-volume hemofiltration combined with early-goal-directed therapy improves alveolar-arterial oxygen exchange in patients with refractory septic shock sembra essere il primo su European Review.

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Predictors of asthma exacerbation among patients with poorly controlled asthma despite inhaled corticosteroid treatment

Publication date: Available online 19 December 2015
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Wilson Quezada, Eun Soo Kwak, Joan Reibman, Linda Rogers, John Mastronarde, William G. Teague, Christine Wei, Janet T. Holbrook, Emily DiMango
BackgroundAsthma exacerbations are associated with decreased quality of life and increased health care usage. Identification of characteristics that predict increased risk of future exacerbations in patients with suboptimal control of asthma could guide treatment decisions.ObjectiveTo examine patient characteristics associated with risk of asthma exacerbations in patients with uncontrolled persistent asthma.MethodsA retrospective analysis of adults and children with inadequately controlled asthma despite asthma controller therapy and enrolled in 2 randomized trials was conducted. Baseline characteristics of subjects who experienced an asthma exacerbation during the treatment period were compared with those of subjects who did not experience an exacerbation.ResultsOf 718 subjects (402 adults and 295 children), 108 adults (27%) and 110 children (37%) experienced an asthma exacerbation during the study period. Unscheduled health care visits for asthma or use of oral corticosteroids in the previous year were significantly associated with asthma exacerbation during the study period (P < .01). Adult subjects who experienced an exacerbation had significantly lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second compared with those who did not (2.3 vs 2.5 L, respectively, P = .02). Children who experienced an exacerbation had lower baseline pre- and post-bronchodilator ratios of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (77% vs 81%, P < .01; 82% vs 86%, P < .001, respectively). Symptom scores on validated questionnaires were significantly worse in adults but not in children who developed an exacerbation.ConclusionSpirometric measurements can help identify adults and children at increased risk for asthma exacerbation. Symptom scores could be helpful in identifying adults who are at high risk for exacerbations but could be less helpful in children.

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Predictors of asthma exacerbation among patients with poorly controlled asthma despite inhaled corticosteroid treatment

Publication date: Available online 19 December 2015
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Wilson Quezada, Eun Soo Kwak, Joan Reibman, Linda Rogers, John Mastronarde, William G. Teague, Christine Wei, Janet T. Holbrook, Emily DiMango
BackgroundAsthma exacerbations are associated with decreased quality of life and increased health care usage. Identification of characteristics that predict increased risk of future exacerbations in patients with suboptimal control of asthma could guide treatment decisions.ObjectiveTo examine patient characteristics associated with risk of asthma exacerbations in patients with uncontrolled persistent asthma.MethodsA retrospective analysis of adults and children with inadequately controlled asthma despite asthma controller therapy and enrolled in 2 randomized trials was conducted. Baseline characteristics of subjects who experienced an asthma exacerbation during the treatment period were compared with those of subjects who did not experience an exacerbation.ResultsOf 718 subjects (402 adults and 295 children), 108 adults (27%) and 110 children (37%) experienced an asthma exacerbation during the study period. Unscheduled health care visits for asthma or use of oral corticosteroids in the previous year were significantly associated with asthma exacerbation during the study period (P < .01). Adult subjects who experienced an exacerbation had significantly lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second compared with those who did not (2.3 vs 2.5 L, respectively, P = .02). Children who experienced an exacerbation had lower baseline pre- and post-bronchodilator ratios of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (77% vs 81%, P < .01; 82% vs 86%, P < .001, respectively). Symptom scores on validated questionnaires were significantly worse in adults but not in children who developed an exacerbation.ConclusionSpirometric measurements can help identify adults and children at increased risk for asthma exacerbation. Symptom scores could be helpful in identifying adults who are at high risk for exacerbations but could be less helpful in children.

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Medical management of an ovarian ectopic pregnancy: a case report

Abstract

Background

Primary ovarian ectopic pregnancy is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy which has an estimated prevalence ranging from 1:7000 to 1:70,000 accounting for almost 3 % of all ectopic cases. Here we report the case of a 25-year-old woman who presented to our clinic with abdominal pain, 6 weeks' delay of menstruation and 3 days of vaginal bleeding, whose transvaginal ultrasonography showed an ectopic gestational sac with yolk sac inside, in her right ovary. This case shows that early diagnosis is very important particularly in places like the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.

Case presentation

A 25-year-old African woman was referred to our clinic with 6 weeks' delay of menstruation, frequent increasing abdominal pain and 3 days of vaginal bleeding. Her general condition was good and her vital signs were normal. She felt tenderness in an abdominal examination and had a small amount of vaginal bleeding. Transvaginal ultrasonography showed an ectopic gestational sac with yolk sac inside, in her right ovary. Our final diagnosis was ectopic ovarian pregnancy and we successfully treated her with methotrexate. After 3 weeks of methotrexate administration her beta human chorionic gonadotropin was negative and a sonographic examination was completely normal.

Conclusions

Ectopic ovarian pregnancy is a very important medical situation. It should be diagnosed in its early stages otherwise it could be life-threatening and surgical treatment may be inevitable. Because of the importance of fertility, medical treatment is an acceptable option and can be feasible with early diagnosis.

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Medical management of an ovarian ectopic pregnancy: a case report

Abstract

Background

Primary ovarian ectopic pregnancy is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy which has an estimated prevalence ranging from 1:7000 to 1:70,000 accounting for almost 3 % of all ectopic cases. Here we report the case of a 25-year-old woman who presented to our clinic with abdominal pain, 6 weeks' delay of menstruation and 3 days of vaginal bleeding, whose transvaginal ultrasonography showed an ectopic gestational sac with yolk sac inside, in her right ovary. This case shows that early diagnosis is very important particularly in places like the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.

Case presentation

A 25-year-old African woman was referred to our clinic with 6 weeks' delay of menstruation, frequent increasing abdominal pain and 3 days of vaginal bleeding. Her general condition was good and her vital signs were normal. She felt tenderness in an abdominal examination and had a small amount of vaginal bleeding. Transvaginal ultrasonography showed an ectopic gestational sac with yolk sac inside, in her right ovary. Our final diagnosis was ectopic ovarian pregnancy and we successfully treated her with methotrexate. After 3 weeks of methotrexate administration her beta human chorionic gonadotropin was negative and a sonographic examination was completely normal.

Conclusions

Ectopic ovarian pregnancy is a very important medical situation. It should be diagnosed in its early stages otherwise it could be life-threatening and surgical treatment may be inevitable. Because of the importance of fertility, medical treatment is an acceptable option and can be feasible with early diagnosis.

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Erratum to: A new anatomic trait for identifying the mendosal suture in young children: the mendosal–lambdoidal angle

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Erratum to: A new anatomic trait for identifying the mendosal suture in young children: the mendosal–lambdoidal angle

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Opposite seasonality of the aerosol optical depth and the surface particulate matter concentration over the north China Plain

Publication date: February 2016
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 127
Author(s): Wenjun Qu, Jun Wang, Xiaoye Zhang, Lifang Sheng, Wencai Wang
Great difference exists in the aerosol optical depth (AOD) between summer and winter over the North China Plain (NCP). Monthly mean AOD at 550 nm derived from the MODIS (MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) products during 2000–2014 over the area of 30–40° N and 110–125° E exhibits an annual maximum in June (0.855 ± 0.130) and a minimum in December (0.381 ± 0.032). This seasonality of AOD is in the opposite phase with the surface particulate matter (PM) concentration (higher in winter and lower in summer). The possible causes for the higher AOD in June (compared with December) include (a) a higher boundary layer height (BLH) that results in more efficient transport and mixing of aerosol particles to a higher altitude (corresponding to a lower particle concentration near surface) as revealed by the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations profile, (b) a higher relative humidity (RH) due to the inshore monsoon circulation that leads to enhancement of aerosol extinction, (c) emission from the regional open stalk burning in the summer harvest season (as seen from MODIS fire products), and (d) the typical eastward open topographical basin over NCP. Under the assumption that the aerosol and water vapor are well mixed within the boundary layer, analysis on multi-year average shows that the differences in BLH, RH and surface PM concentration can explain up to 81% of the variance of monthly averaged AOD over NCP. A preliminarily hypothesis is also suggested to interpret the shift of AOD pattern from winter to summer with an abrupt increase of AOD from May to June, as well as an increase of surface PM2.5 concentration over NCP during the early phase of northward progress of the East Asia summer monsoon front.

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Indoor-to-outdoor particle concentration ratio model for human exposure analysis

Publication date: February 2016
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 127
Author(s): Jae Young Lee, Sung Hee Ryu, Gwangjae Lee, Gwi-Nam Bae
This study presents an indoor-to-outdoor particle concentration ratio (IOR) model for improved estimates of indoor exposure levels. This model is useful in epidemiological studies with large population, because sampling indoor pollutants in all participants' house is often necessary but impractical. As a part of a study examining the association between air pollutants and atopic dermatitis in children, 16 parents agreed to measure the indoor and outdoor PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations at their homes for 48 h. Correlation analysis and multi-step multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to develop the IOR model. Temperature and floor level were found to be powerful predictors of the IOR. Despite the simplicity of the model, it demonstrated high accuracy in terms of the root mean square error (RMSE). Especially for long-term IOR estimations, the RMSE was as low as 0.064 and 0.063 for PM10 and PM2.5, respectively. When using a prediction model in an epidemiological study, understanding the consequence of the modeling error and justifying the use of the model is very important. In the last section, this paper discussed the impact of the modeling error and developed a novel methodology to justify the use of the model.

Graphical abstract

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Assessing the impact of atmospheric stability on locally and remotely sourced aerosols at Richmond, Australia, using Radon-222

Publication date: February 2016
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 127
Author(s): Jagoda Crawford, Scott Chambers, David Cohen, Alastair Williams, Alan Griffiths, Eduard Stelcer
A flexible radon-based scheme for the classification of nocturnal stability regimes was used for the interpretation of daily-integrated PM2.5 aerosol observations collected at Richmond, Australia, between 2007 and 2011. Source fingerprint concentrations for the dominant locally and remotely sourced aerosols were analysed by nocturnal radon stability category to characterise the influences of day-to-day changes in daily integrated atmospheric mixing. The fingerprints analysed included: smoke, vehicle exhaust, secondary sulfate and aged industrial sulfur. The largest and most consistent stability influences were observed on the locally sourced pollutants. Based on a 5-year composite, daily integrated concentrations of smoke were almost a factor of 7 higher when nocturnal conditions were classed as "stable" than when they were "near neutral". For vehicle emissions a factor of 4 was seen. However, when the winter months were considered in isolation, it was found that these factors increased to 11.5 (smoke) and 5.5 (vehicle emissions) for daily average concentrations. The changes in concentration of the remotely sourced pollutants with atmospheric stability were comparatively small and less consistent, probably as a result of the nocturnal inversion frequently isolating near-surface observations from non-local sources at night. A similar classification was performed using the commonly-adopted Pasquill–Gifford (PG) stability typing technique based on meteorological parameters. While concentrations of fingerprints associated with locally-sourced pollutants were also shown to be positively correlated with atmospheric stability using the PG classification, this technique was found to underestimate peak pollutant concentrations under stable atmospheric conditions by almost a factor of 2.

Graphical abstract

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