Influence of asthma definition on the asthma-obesity relationship

Background: Epidemiological studies suggest an association between obesity and asthma in adults and children. Asthma diagnosis criteria are different among studies. The aim of this study was to test the influence of asthma definition on the asthma-obesity relationship. Methods: In a cross-sectional analysis of 1922 men and women, subjects completed a translated questionnaire from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey and underwent spirometry and a bronchial challenge test. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess the association of variables related to obesity and asthma. Asthma was defined either by the presence of symptoms with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) or by a self-report of a physician-made diagnosis. The following variables were separately tested for associations with asthma: socioeconomic characteristics, schooling, physical activity, smoking status, anthropometry and spirometry. Results: No association was detected between asthma confirmed by BHR and obesity indicators, odds ratio (OR) = 1.08 (95% confidence interval: 0.69 - 1.68) for obesity assessed by body mass index >= 30 kg/m(2); OR = 1.02 (0.74 - 1.40) for obesity assessed by abnormal waist-to-height ratio; and, OR = 0.96 (0.69 - 1.33) for abnormal waist circumference. On the contrary, a previous diagnosis of asthma was associated with obesity, OR = 1.48 (1.01 - 2.16) for body mass index >= 30 kg/m(2); OR = 1.48 (1.13 - 1.93) for abnormal waist-to-height ratio; and, OR = 1.32 (1.00 - 1.75) for abnormal waist circumference. Female gender, schooling >= 12 years and smoking were associated with BHR-confirmed asthma. Physically inactive subjects were associated with a previous diagnosis of asthma. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the relationship between asthma and obesity in epidemiological studies depends on the definition adopted. Certain components of asthma, for instance, symptoms may be more prone to the obesity influence than other ones, like bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Antennas for the detection of radio emission pulses from cosmic-ray induced air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is exploring the potential of the radio detection technique to study extensive air showers induced by ultra-high energy cosmic rays. The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) addresses both technological and scientific aspects of the radio technique. A first phase of AERA has been operating since September 2010 with detector stations observing radio signals at frequencies between 30 and 80 MHz. In this paper we present comparative studies to identify and optimize the antenna design for the final configuration of AERA consisting of 160 individual radio detector stations. The transient nature of the air shower signal requires a detailed description of the antenna sensor. As the ultra-wideband reception of pulses is not widely discussed in antenna literature, we review the relevant antenna characteristics and enhance theoretical considerations towards the impulse response of antennas including polarization effects and multiple signal reflections. On the basis of the vector effective length we study the transient response characteristics of three candidate antennas in the time domain. Observing the variation of the continuous galactic background intensity we rank the antennas with respect to the noise level added to the galactic signal.

The rapid atmospheric monitoring system of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is a facility built to detect air showers produced by cosmic rays above 10(17) eV. During clear nights with a low illuminated moon fraction, the UV fluorescence light produced by air showers is recorded by optical telescopes at the Observatory. To correct the observations for variations in atmospheric conditions, atmospheric monitoring is performed at regular intervals ranging from several minutes (for cloud identification) to several hours (for aerosol conditions) to several days (for vertical profiles of temperature, pressure, and humidity). In 2009, the monitoring program was upgraded to allow for additional targeted measurements of atmospheric conditions shortly after the detection of air showers of special interest, e. g., showers produced by very high-energy cosmic rays or showers with atypical longitudinal profiles. The former events are of particular importance for the determination of the energy scale of the Observatory, and the latter are characteristic of unusual air shower physics or exotic primary particle types. The purpose of targeted (or "rapid") monitoring is to improve the resolution of the atmospheric measurements for such events. In this paper, we report on the implementation of the rapid monitoring program and its current status. The rapid monitoring data have been analyzed and applied to the reconstruction of air showers of high interest, and indicate that the air fluorescence measurements affected by clouds and aerosols are effectively corrected using measurements from the regular atmospheric monitoring program. We find that the rapid monitoring program has potential for supporting dedicated physics analyses beyond the standard event reconstruction.

SEARCH FOR POINT-LIKE SOURCES OF ULTRA-HIGH ENERGY NEUTRINOS AT THE PIERRE AUGER OBSERVATORY AND IMPROVED LIMIT ON THE DIFFUSE FLUX OF TAU NEUTRINOS

The surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory can detect neutrinos with energy E-nu between 10(17) eV and 10(20) eV from point-like sources across the sky south of +55 degrees and north of -65 degrees declinations. A search has been performed for highly inclined extensive air showers produced by the interaction of neutrinos of all flavors in the atmosphere (downward-going neutrinos), and by the decay of tau leptons originating from tau neutrino interactions in Earth's crust (Earth-skimming neutrinos). No candidate neutrinos have been found in data up to 2010 May 31. This corresponds to an equivalent exposure of similar to 3.5 years of a full surface detector array for the Earth-skimming channel and similar to 2 years for the downward-going channel. An improved upper limit on the diffuse flux of tau neutrinos has been derived. Upper limits on the neutrino flux from point-like sources have been derived as a function of the source declination. Assuming a differential neutrino flux k(PS) . E-nu(-2). from a point-like source, 90% confidence level upper limits for k(PS) at the level of approximate to 5x10(-7) and 2.5x10(-6) GeV cm(-2) s(-1) have been obtained over a broad range of declinations from the searches for Earth-skimming and downward-going neutrinos, respectively.

A search for point sources of EeV neutrons

A thorough search of the sky exposed at the Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory reveals no statistically significant excess of events in any small solid angle that would be indicative of a flux of neutral particles from a discrete source. The search covers from -90 degrees to +15 degrees in declination using four different energy ranges above 1 EeV (10(18) eV). The method used in this search is more sensitive to neutrons than to photons. The upper limit on a neutron flux is derived for a dense grid of directions for each of the four energy ranges. These results constrain scenarios for the production of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays in the Galaxy.

LARGE-SCALE DISTRIBUTION OF ARRIVAL DIRECTIONS OF COSMIC RAYS DETECTED ABOVE 10(18) eV AT THE PIERRE AUGER OBSERVATORY

A thorough search for large-scale anisotropies in the distribution of arrival directions of cosmic rays detected above 10(18) eV at the Pierre Auger Observatory is presented. This search is performed as a function of both declination and right ascension in several energy ranges above 10(18) eV, and reported in terms of dipolar and quadrupolar coefficients. Within the systematic uncertainties, no significant deviation from isotropy is revealed. Assuming that any cosmic-ray anisotropy is dominated by dipole and quadrupole moments in this energy range, upper limits on their amplitudes are derived. These upper limits allow us to test the origin of cosmic rays above 10(18) eV from stationary Galactic sources densely distributed in the Galactic disk and predominantly emitting light particles in all directions.

Potential Effects of Alendronate on Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Levels and Effective Control of Hypercalciuria in an Adult with Jansen's Metaphyseal Chondrodysplasia

Context: Jansen's metaphyseal chondrodysplasia (JMC) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by activating mutations in the PTH 1 receptor (PTH1R; PTH/PTHrP receptor), leading to chronic hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria. Hypophosphatemia is also a hallmark of JMC, and recently, increased fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels have been reported in this syndrome. Hypercalcemia has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk; however, cardiovascular disease has not been extensively investigated in JMC patients. Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the long-term follow-up of a JMC patient with regard to the management of hypercalciuria, the evaluation of FGF23 levels under bisphosphonate treatment, and the investigation of cardiovascular repercussion of chronic hypercalcemia. Results: The diagnosis of JCM was confirmed by molecular analysis (p.H223R mutation in PTH1R). The patient was followed from 5 to 27 yr of age. Asymptomatic nephrolithiasis was diagnosed at 18 yr of age, prompting pharmacological management of hypercalciuria. Treatment with alendronate reduced hypercalciuria; however, normocalciuria was only obtained with the association of thiazide diuretic. Serum FGF23 levels, measured under alendronate treatment, were repeatedly within the normal range. Subclinical cardiovascular disease was investigated when the patient was 26 yr old, after 19 yr of sustained mild hypercalcemia; carotid and vertebral artery ultrasonography was normal, as well as coronary computed tomography angiography (calcium score = 0). Conclusion: The long-term follow-up of our JMC patient has provided insight on therapeutic strategies to control hypercalciuria, on the potential effects of alendronate on FGF23 levels, and on the lack of detectable cardiovascular disease at young adulthood after prolonged exposure to hypercalcemia. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97: 1098-1103, 2012)

Moderna República velha: um outro ano de 1922

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar diferentes recepções da jovem República, sobretudo em seus primeiros anos. Afinal, a tradição se inscrevia em meio à modernidade, e o novo se confundia com o velho. E é junto a esse caldo de paradoxos e conflitos que se desenha a Semana de Arte Moderna - um sopro de vanguarda, de cosmopolitismo e certo otimismo, nesse contexto - mas também outras experiências sociais de caráter mais político reivindicativo. Nesse sentido, ouso expor um pouco da experiência de Lima Barreto. Não para dela fazer um exemplo que ilumina toda uma época, ou muito menos "para estragar a festa" do ano de 2012. Ao contrário, ela representa um "outro caso", outra face da mesma modernidade. Quem sabe ela sirva como testemunho do ambiente que assolou parte da intelectualidade brasileira de inícios do século, cada vez mais descrente dos destinos dessa nação, e, nesse caso, muito impactados pelos discursos raciais deterministas, os quais, após a abolição da escravidão, criavam um novo tipo de "desigualdade", dessa feita pautada na biologia.