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Allergologia Et Immunopathologia 2018Aeroallergens are airborne organic substances which are responsible for allergenic diseases in hypersensitive individuals. People are exposed to their allergens either...
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Aeroallergens are airborne organic substances which are responsible for allergenic diseases in hypersensitive individuals. People are exposed to their allergens either directly or after their entrance into the interiors. The spatio-temporal pattern of aeroallergens and their relationship with weather variability in Abuja and Nassarawa, North-Central Nigeria was studied.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Aerosamples were trapped with modified Tauber-like pollen traps. Samples were collected monthly and centrifuged at 2500rpm for 5 min and subjected to acetolysis. Meteorological data were collected from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
Aeroallergens concentration were unequivocally regulated by weather variables in both locations, indicating the possible use of aeroallergens especially pollen and spores as bio-indicators of weather variations and change. Aeroallergens encountered were fungal spores, pollen, diatom frustules, fern spores, algal cyst/cells in decreasing order of dominance. Among pollen group, Poaceae, Amarathaceae/Chenopodiaceae and Hymenocardia acida dominated. Spores of Smut species, Puccinia, Curvularia and Nigrospora were major contributors among aeromycoflora. Fungal spores morphotype dominated during the rainier months and were major contributors of the aeroallergen spectrum with those belonging to Deuteromycete preponderant. Aeroallergens which were previously identified as triggers of conjunctivitis, asthma, allergic sinusitis and bronchopulmonary allergic diseases were frequently present in both locations. Pollen prevailed more during the harmattan, influenced by northeast trade wind. Pollen component differed and was based on autochthonous source plants, indicating difference in sub-vegetational types.
Topics: Air; Allergens; Animals; Asthma; Diatoms; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Nigeria; Particulate Matter; Poaceae; Pollen; Seasons; Spores, Fungal; Ustilago; Weather
PubMed: 30055844
DOI: 10.1016/j.aller.2018.03.008 -
Chest Jun 1991
Topics: Air; Coronary Artery Bypass; Humans; Hypotension; Lung; Postoperative Complications; Thoracic Surgery
PubMed: 2036859
DOI: 10.1378/chest.99.6.1552-b -
Environmental Science & Technology Jan 2013We performed core flooding experiments on Indiana limestone using the porous plate method to measure the amount of trapped CO(2) at a temperature of 50 °C and two...
We performed core flooding experiments on Indiana limestone using the porous plate method to measure the amount of trapped CO(2) at a temperature of 50 °C and two pressures: 4.2 and 9 MPa. Brine was mixed with CO(2) for equilibration, then the mixture was circulated through a sacrificial core. Porosity and permeability tests conducted before and after 884 h of continuous core flooding confirmed negligible dissolution. A trapping curve for supercritical (sc)CO(2) in Indiana showing the relationship between the initial and residual CO(2) saturations was measured and compared with that of gaseous CO(2). The results were also compared with scCO(2) trapping in Berea sandstone at the same conditions. A scCO(2) residual trapping end point of 23.7% was observed, indicating slightly less trapping of scCO(2) in Indiana carbonates than in Berea sandstone. There is less trapping for gaseous CO(2) (end point of 18.8%). The system appears to be more water-wet under scCO(2) conditions, which is different from the trend observed in Berea; we hypothesize that this is due to the greater concentration of Ca(2+) in brine at higher pressure. Our work indicates that capillary trapping could contribute to the immobilization of CO(2) in carbonate aquifers.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Calcium; Calcium Carbonate; Carbon Dioxide; Carbon Sequestration; Geological Phenomena; Hot Temperature; Magnesium; Porosity; Pressure; Salts; Solubility
PubMed: 23167314
DOI: 10.1021/es304166u -
Journal of Human Evolution Nov 2022It has been proposed that humans' exceptional locomotor endurance evolved partly with foraging in hot open habitats and subsequently about 2 million years ago with...
It has been proposed that humans' exceptional locomotor endurance evolved partly with foraging in hot open habitats and subsequently about 2 million years ago with persistence hunting, for which endurance running was instrumental. However, persistence hunting by walking, if successful, could select for locomotor endurance even before the emergence of any running-related traits in human evolution. Using a heat exchange model validated here in 73 humans and 55 ungulates, we simulated persistence hunts for prey of three sizes (100, 250, and 400 kg) and three sweating capacities (nonsweating, low, high) at 6237 combinations of hunter's velocity (1-5 m s, intermittent), air temperature (25-45 °C), relative humidity (30-90%), and start time (8:00-16:00). Our simulations predicted that walking would be successful in persistence hunting of low- and nonsweating prey, especially under hot and humid conditions. However, simulated persistence hunts by walking yielded a 30-74% lower success rate than hunts by running or intermittent running. In addition, despite requiring 10-30% less energy, successful simulated persistence hunts by walking were twice as long and resulted in greater exhaustion of the hunter than hunts by running and intermittent running. These shortcomings of pursuit by walking compared to running identified in our simulations could explain why there is only a single direct description of persistence hunting by walking among modern hunter-gatherers. Nevertheless, walking down prey could be a viable option for hominins who did not possess the endurance-running phenotype of the proposed first persistence hunter, Homo erectus. Our simulation results suggest that persistence hunting could select for both long-distance walking and endurance running and contribute to the evolution of locomotor endurance seen in modern humans.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Physical Endurance; Hunting; Running; Hominidae; Walking
PubMed: 36152433
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2022.103247 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Aug 2014As a widely applicable process for fabricating micro- or nanostructures, micromolding in atmosphere would require the removal or minimization of air-trapping in mold...
As a widely applicable process for fabricating micro- or nanostructures, micromolding in atmosphere would require the removal or minimization of air-trapping in mold cavities so as to fill the liquid prepolymer fully into the mold for generating an exact polymer duplicate. This has been difficult, if not impossible, especially for a mold with high aspect ratio, varying size/shape, or isolated cavities because the air can be trapped inside such mold cavities in most variants of the molding process. This paper presents an electrowetting assisted transfer micromolding process to solve this problem. A feeding blade continuously supplies a UV-curable prepolymer over a dielectric-coated conductive mold placed on a progressively advancing stage. A voltage applied to the electrode pair composed of the feeding blade and mold generates an electrowetting of the prepolymer to the mold. The electrowetting allows for the three-phase contact line to pass progressively along the sidewalls and bottoms of the cavities, completely pushing out the air initially occupying the cavities, or generates an electrocapillary force large enough to pull the prepolymer deeply into the mold by compressing the air already trapped inside the cavities to a minimized volume. An experiment has been performed for micromolding with deep cavities of various shapes and sizes, demonstrating an essential improvement in the structural integrity of the polymer duplicates.
PubMed: 25003308
DOI: 10.1021/am502728n -
Mayo Clinic Proceedings Jul 1999A previously healthy 70-year-old woman developed fever, cough, and exertional dyspnea. Her symptoms progressed over a 2-month period despite treatment by her primary...
A previously healthy 70-year-old woman developed fever, cough, and exertional dyspnea. Her symptoms progressed over a 2-month period despite treatment by her primary care physician with 2 courses of oral antibiotics and the addition of prednisone. Hypoxemia and the finding of hyperglycemia with mild ketoacidosis led to hospital admission. Serial chest radiographs demonstrated diffuse heterogeneous pulmonary opacities and progressive air trapping in the right lower lobe. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed a deep penetrating ulcer with exposed bronchial cartilage of the bronchus intermedius and dynamic airway obstruction with complete closure during expiration. Biopsy of the ulcer revealed Rhizopus arrhizus. Respiratory failure stabilized with the patient on conventional mechanical ventilation and receiving amphotericin B. Before surgery could be performed, Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia and septic shock developed, and the patient died.
Topics: Aged; Air; Bronchial Diseases; Bronchoscopy; Dyspnea; Female; Humans; Lung; Mucormycosis; Respiratory Insufficiency; Rhizopus; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 10405701
DOI: 10.4065/74.7.698 -
Technology and Health Care : Official... 2007The aim of the study was to assess a new expiratory support (ES) system in resolving air trapping in the lungs during mechanical ventilation. The ES system consisted of...
The aim of the study was to assess a new expiratory support (ES) system in resolving air trapping in the lungs during mechanical ventilation. The ES system consisted of a cylinder and two valves that were connected to the ventilatory circuit. The movements of them were synchronized with the ventilator. The cylinder aspirated gas during expiration. We compared the effects of the ES on air trapping between a narrower and an ordinary size endotracheal tube (ETT) (internal diameter (ID): 5 and 8 mm). In addition, we compared the effects of the ES on air trapping between normal and high airway resistance of the lungs (5 and 20 cm H(2)O/L/s). The ventilatory settings were as follows: volume controlled ventilation with constant inspiratory flow rate; tidal volume, 0.5 L; inspiratory time, 1.0 s; expiratory time, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 s; and PEEP, 0 cm H(2)O. The ES normalized the end-expiratory alveolar pressure of the 5 mm ID ETT at a level similar to that of the 8 mm ID ETT. The ES also resolved the air trapping induced by the high airway resistance of the lungs. In conclusion, the ES system resolved the air trapping associated with a narrow endotracheal tube and high airway resistance of the lungs.
Topics: Air; Algorithms; Exhalation; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal; Japan; Lung; Models, Biological; Respiration, Artificial; Technology Assessment, Biomedical
PubMed: 17473401
DOI: No ID Found -
Scientific Reports Jun 2015By the use of a modified ionizer device we describe effective prevention of airborne transmitted influenza A (strain Panama 99) virus infection between animals and...
By the use of a modified ionizer device we describe effective prevention of airborne transmitted influenza A (strain Panama 99) virus infection between animals and inactivation of virus (>97%). Active ionizer prevented 100% (4/4) of guinea pigs from infection. Moreover, the device effectively captured airborne transmitted calicivirus, rotavirus and influenza virus, with recovery rates up to 21% after 40 min in a 19 m(3) room. The ionizer generates negative ions, rendering airborne particles/aerosol droplets negatively charged and electrostatically attracts them to a positively charged collector plate. Trapped viruses are then identified by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR. The device enables unique possibilities for rapid and simple removal of virus from air and offers possibilities to simultaneously identify and prevent airborne transmission of viruses.
Topics: Aerosols; Air; Air Microbiology; Animals; Guinea Pigs; Influenza A virus; Ions; Microscopy, Electron; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Static Electricity
PubMed: 26101102
DOI: 10.1038/srep11431 -
Lab on a Chip Dec 2015A new approach to trap air bubbles before they enter microfluidic systems is presented. The bubble trap is based on the combined interaction of surface tension and...
A new approach to trap air bubbles before they enter microfluidic systems is presented. The bubble trap is based on the combined interaction of surface tension and hydrodynamic forces. The design is simple, easy to fabricate and straightforward to use. The trap is made of tubes of different sizes and can easily be integrated into any microfluidic setup. We describe the general working principle and derive a simple theoretical model to explain the trapping. Furthermore, the natural oscillations of trapped air bubbles created in this system are explained and quantified in terms of bubble displacement over time and oscillation frequency. These oscillations may be exploited as a basis for fluidic oscillators in future microfluidic systems.
Topics: Air; Equipment Design; Microfluidics; Time Factors
PubMed: 26500046
DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00592b -
Scientific Reports Oct 2019Microsporidia Nosema are transferred among bees via the faecal-oral route. Nosema spp. spores have been detected on flowers and transferred to hives along with the bee...
Microsporidia Nosema are transferred among bees via the faecal-oral route. Nosema spp. spores have been detected on flowers and transferred to hives along with the bee pollen. The aim of the present study was to determine whether Nosema microsporidia are transferred by air in an apiary, in a control area (without the presence of bee colonies), and/or in a laboratory during cage experiments with artificially infected bees. The novel way of transmission by air was investigated by the volumetric method using a Hirst-type aerobiological sampler located on the ground in the apiary, in the Botanical Garden and on the laboratory floor. Concurrently, the mean rate of Nosema infections in the foragers in the apiary was estimated with the Bürker haemocytometer method. Spore-trapping tapes were imaged by means of light microscopy, Nomarski interference contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The highest concentration of Nosema spores per 1m of air (4.65) was recorded in August, while the lowest concentration (2.89) was noted in July. This was confirmed by a Real-Time PCR analysis. The presence of N. apis as well as N. ceranae was detected in each of the tested tapes from the apiary. The average copy number of N. apis was estimated at 14.4 × 10 copies per 1 cm of the tape; whereas the number of N. ceranae was 2.24 × 10 copies per tape per 1 cm. The results indicate that Nosema microsporidia were transferred by the wind in the apiary, but not in the Botanical Garden and laboratory by air. This was confirmed by genetic analyses. DNA from immobilised biological material was isolated and subjected to a PCR to detect the Nosema species. A fragment of the 16S rRNA gene, characteristic of Nosema apis and N. ceranae, was detected. Our research adds knowledge about the transfer of Nosema spp. microsporidia in the natural environment and indicates the season associated with the greatest risk of a bee colony infection with Nosema spp.
Topics: Air; Air Microbiology; Animals; Bees; Microsporidiosis; Nosema
PubMed: 31591451
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50974-8