Efforts to estimate the population prevalence of chemical sensitivities have been limited and have yielded different estimates of the prevalence of affected individuals. Researchers recognize that people differ in their biological susceptibility to environmental contaminants as well as the amount of contaminant to which they are potentially exposed. Lack of information on the population prevalence of people, who report sensitivity to a chemical or many chemicals, as well as variables associated, has been recognized in previous studies (Kreutzer et al., 1999). In a more recent report, Berg et al., in 2007 reported the prevalence and consequences related to inhalation of chemicals in a Danish population. They concluded that the symptoms related to inhalation of airborne chemicals were common, especially among women. A small part of that population reported that these symptoms affected social life or occupational conditions. Details in prevalence on severity of symptoms caused by inhaled odors, chemicals and irritants have not been investigated comparing populations based on ethnical differences. These differences could influence how individuals report their symptoms. This study evaluated the differences between Americans and Hispanics in sensitivity and symptoms related to inhalation of strong odors, chemical and irritants. We also evaluated the differences between both ethnic groups on quality of life due to these symptoms. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between December 2008 and March 2009. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a total of 290 adults and 205 were selected for the analysis. American and Hispanic individuals of 16 years old or more were included. The responses were cross-tabulated and comparisons between means were performed using t-test and ANOVA. 29.8% of study population reported being more sensitive than the average person and women reported more than men (75%). These findings were consistent with previous reported in the literature. The reaction more frequent reported was to cigarette smoke (60%). Statistically significant differences were identified between Americans and Hispanics regarding to sensitivity to chemicals, irritants, odors or strong fragrances and reaction to cigarette smoke when history of Allergy is present. Significant differences between both ethnic groups were detected with Lower Respiratory, Neuro-psychological and Non-specific symptoms; and Quality of life. These differences were disclosed when history of Allergy, smoking habit, used steroids or antibiotics within the last 4 weeks, and age were considered. Americans reported being more sensitive with exposure to recognized everyday irritants, react more to cigarette smoke and reported more Non-specific symptoms than Hispanics. Hispanic smokers tend to report Lower Respiratory symptoms more than the Americans. Hispanics between 50 to 59 years old reported more Neuro-psychological symptoms than Americans. Quality of life was more affected among Americans if they are exposed to common irritants, when Allergy history and use of steroids or antibiotics were considered.

Individuals may develop symptoms in response to inhaled odors, chemicals, and irritants. This may affect their quality of life. Little is known about the prevalence and severity of symptoms that result from exposure to odors, chemicals and irritants. This study demonstrates the development of a new respiratory questionnaire to detect the prevalence and severity of symptoms experienced upon exposure to chemicals, odors, and irritants, and relates these symptoms to quality of life. This questionnaire was submitted to 96 volunteers at the University of South Florida College of Public Health who responded to items regarding symptoms developed in response to exposure to automobile exhaust, cigarette smoke, strong smells, cologne, perfumes or scented candles, or fresh paint vapors or fumes. Health-related quality of life was assessed using a subscale included with the questionnaire. The number and severity of symptoms developed in response to exposure to odors, chemicals, and irritants showed a strong negative correlation with health-related quality of life, consistent with intuitive estimates of the direction of this relationship. Also, it was shown that in normal populations, males and females develop statistically similar prevalence and severity of symptoms in response to exposure to odors, chemicals, and irritants.

Background/aims. Self-compassion is an approach of kindness towards the self; encompassing self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness (Neff, 2003b). It is thought to enable awareness that suffering is common within human experience, encouraging compassion for others. Parental sensitivity and attributions are considered to influence parent-child relationships and have been negatively associated with depression. This study aimed to explore associations between parent self-compassion, attributions of child behaviour and sensitive responding in recurrently depressed parents. Methods/participants. This was a correlational design using baseline data from a feasibility randomised controlled trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. The 38 participants had experienced recurrent major depressive episodes, were in remission and had at least one child between two and six years old. Self-compassion was measured by the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; Neff, 2003b). Parent attributions of child behaviour were assessed by semi-structured interviews and rated using the Attributions Measure (S. Scott & M. Dadds, personal communication, 2009). Sensitivity was assessed using a parent-child observation task and rated by the Coding of Attachment-Related Parenting (Matias, Scott & O’Connor, 2006). Results. Findings show significant correlations between higher SCS total scores and external attributions of positive or negative valence. The SCS subscale self-judgement was significantly negatively correlated with sensitivity. Conclusion. In conclusion, higher self-compassion was positively associated with external attributions of child behaviour in either situation. Parents with higher levels of self-compassion also showed positive associations with sensitivity. These associations support current theories suggesting self-compassion could be positively associated with parenting. Areas for future research and clinical implications are considered.

Fathers in two-parent families are becoming increasingly involved in infant care, highlighting the need to understand the determinants and influence of father-infant interactions. Paternal responsiveness is a core component of positive father-infant interactions. This study investigated associations between paternal responsiveness and infant development; and paternal low mood and paternal responsiveness. Participants were a sub-sample of father-infant dyads (n=47) from a UK community cohort study: The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. The Mellow Parenting Coding System was used to measure paternal responsiveness within a video-recorded father-infant interaction at 12 months. Infant development was assessed using the Griffiths scales at 18 months and paternal low mood was measured using the Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 8 months. Linear regression analysis provided no evidence for an association between paternal responsiveness and infant development. Due to methodological limitations it is unclear whether this reflects a true null relationship. Unexpectedly, lower paternal mood (indicated by higher scores on the EPDS), was found to be associated with greater paternal responsiveness. For every standard deviation increase in EPDS score, fathers displayed approximately two additional responsiveness behaviours per minute in the observed interaction; this corresponds to a standardised effect size of 0.32 standard deviations. The mechanisms for this association are unclear, but possibilities are discussed. The finding requires replication within larger studies, but clinicians may wish to consider that fathers who achieve very low scores on measures of depressed mood may be at risk for low paternal responsiveness.

Anxiety sensitivity, defined as the fear of anxiety-related sensations and their consequences (Reiss & McNally, 1985), has been consistently shown to be associated with risk for anxiety psychopathology as well as other mental health problems. The primary objective of the present secondary prevention trial sought to examine strategies to reduce anxiety sensitivity among persons with elevated anxiety sensitivity by testing the singular and combined efficacy of two commonly used strategies in multi-component interventions for reducing anxiety sensitivity: (a) anxiety psychoeducation emphasizing the benign nature of stress and (b) interoceptive exposure (i.e. repeated inhalations of 35% CO₂ gas mixture). To provide a stringent control for non-specific effects associated with anxiety psychoeducation and interoceptive exposure with CO₂, two control strategies were included in the study design: general health and nutrition education and repeated inhalations of regular room air. Utilizing a 2X2 design, participants were randomly assigned to receive an education component and intervention sessions consisting of one of two gas mixtures. The current study did not support the relative efficacy of hypothesized active intervention strategies. Rather, all conditions led to significant reductions in anxiety sensitivity. In addition, within-condition effect sizes for conditions in the present study were comparable to effect sizes of active interventions that were efficacious in previous research. Findings from the present study support that anxiety sensitivity is malleable following brief, cost-efficient interventions and these reductions are maintained over a one-month follow-up period. Data from the present study suggest that in the presence of stringent control conditions, hypothesized active intervention strategies provided little additional benefit. The present study has implications for methodological considerations for future secondary prevention trials for the reduction of anxiety sensitivity. The absence of stringent control groups might lead to premature conclusions that reductions in anxiety sensitivity are due to the specific effects of active interventions. Further research is needed to elucidate specific effects of intervention strategies for the reduction of anxiety sensitivity in at risk populations in order to refine secondary prevention interventions aimed to reduce risk for psychopathology. / text

MRI can benefit from an increase in the sensitivity of contrast agents. The CEST MRI technique in particular suffers from very poor sensitivity when using diamagnetic contrast agents. Polymerized CEST MRI contrast agents could increase the sensitivity per macromolecule over monomer contrast agents. The increase in sensitivity is related to the increase in number of contrast agents per polymer. A contrast agent with increased sensitivity can be used to image on the molecular level in vivo, where the concentration of targets is very low. A polymerized diaCEST contrast agent was synthesized by coupling a salicylic acid analogue to a poly (acrylic acid) backbone. The CEST effect of the coupled analogue was compared to its uncoupled form for different concentrations and pH values. A RL-QUEST method was used to calculate the exchange rate of the analogue for different pH values before and after coupling. The polymerized diaCEST agent was attempted to be loaded into DOPC and bis-SorbPC liposomes, and was also attempted to be targeted to folate receptors in a KB cell culture. These studies establish the foundation for translation of polymerized diaCEST contrast agents to additional in vitro and in vivo investigations.

The Upper San Pedro River aquifer in Southern Arizona has been modeled using MODFLOW several times. The current model improves upon previous models by switching stream packages, adding a third season to represent the summer monsoon, and thereby creating a seasonalized steady-state oscillatory model. Recharge was seasonalized using a method to develop seasonal recharge estimates using ratios of seasonal precipitation to seasonal actual or potential evapotranspiration (ET). Maximum ET was seasonalized according to estimates of riparian groundwater consumption by vegetation in the study area. The model was run with inputs of 80%, 100% and 120% of base values for recharge and maximum ET rates to assess the sensitivity of the groundwater system and river to the seasonal timing and quantity of recharge and ET. The greatest amount of baseflow, 47%, occurred during the wet winter season, 35% occurred during the dry summer, and 18% during the wet summer (monsoon) season.

Land Surface Parameterization (LSP) schemes have evolved from simple tipping-bucket models to fully interactive models, including parameterizations which account for exchanges of momentum, energy, mass, and biogeochemistry. As the demand for greater realism has increased, so has the complexity of LSPs which now includes some parameters that may not be universally relevant to all regions of the globe. The performance of LSP schemes depends on the magnitude of structural, data-related (input and output), and parameter uncertainties in the model. Parameter estimation uncertainty can be reduced by calibrating LSPs against measurements available at field sites. Given the multiple outputs of the models, multi-objective optimization approaches are performed. Some of the parameter values used in LSPs have originally obtained from laboratory studies which analyzed plant behavior under a range of conditions in enclosed chambers. The research described in this dissertation takes advantage of currently available data from several eddy covariance flux towers located mainly in the Brazilian Amazon basin to estimate parameter values of a widely-used LSP scheme, version 3 of the Simple Biosphere model (SiB3). Background climatological data was used to assess the representativeness of the data collection period that might have affected model calibration. Variance-based sensitivity analysis was then used to investigate potential structural deficiencies in SiB3 and to reduce the dimensionality of the subsequent optimization by identifying those model parameters that merit calibration. Finally, some structural and conceptual aspects of SiB3 were tested inside Biosphere 2 Tropical Rain Forest biome (B2-TRF) under meteorological conditions that resemble those predicted in future climate scenarios for the Amazon basin.

Both obesity and type 2 diabetes are significant health burdens in our society. The prevention of these conditions is vital to individual health and to the health care system, which is inordinately stressed by these chronic diseases. Due to variations in individual response to interventions, prevention strategies may require some tailoring based on heritable traits.The objective of this study was to determine whether insulin sensitivity could be altered by resistance training, and further if body composition or insulin sensitivity response to resistance training in postmenopausal women may be influenced by adrenergic receptor genetic variants and gene-gene interactions.Completers of a 12-month randomized controlled trial of resistance training in sedentary post-menopausal (PM) women, using or not using hormone therapy, were measured for fasting plasma glucose, insulin, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) at baseline and one year. These biomarkers were used to compute models of insulin sensitivity. Body composition was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry. Subjects were also re-consented for genotyping of adrenergic receptor (ADR) gene variants, ADRA2B Glu9/12, ADRB3 Trp64Arg, ADRB2 Gln27Glu.The resistance training intervention did not have an overall effect on insulin sensitivity in the largest sample and change in insulin sensitivity was largely dependent body composition. There were small favorable effects of genotype on initial measures of both body composition and insulin sensitivity in the ADRA2B Glu9+ carriers versus non-carriers. The effects of ADRA2B alone were no longer present following intervention, but ADRB3 Arg64+ and ADRB2 Glu27+ contribute to improved insulin sensitivity with exercise, when accounting for body composition. ADRB2 Glu27+ was the key to improved biomarkers of insulin sensitivity when in combination with ADRA2B Glu9+ or ADRB3 Arg64+ and a model of insulin sensitivity was most improved by the combination ADRB3 Arg64+ by ADRB2 Glu27+, compared to other ADRB3 by ADRB2 combinations.This is the first trial of ADRA2B, ADRB3, and ADRB2 genetic variation combinations and resistance training in postmenopausal women relative to body composition and insulin sensitivity. Some specific genotypes were identified as responders and non-responders to exercise. These data support independent associations between body composition and insulin sensitivity and the ADR gene variants.

The cell wall is essential for fungal survival in natural environments. Galactofuranose (Galf) decorates certain carbohydrates and lipids of Aspergillus cell wall, is absent in humans and appears to play a role in fungal cell wall maturation. Previous studies in our lab showed that deletion of any of three sequential-acting genes (ugeA, ugmA, and ugtA) of Galf pathway caused substantially reduced growth and spore production. Two genes upstream of the Galf pathway, galD and galE are essential for galactose metabolism in many systems including the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Interestingly, characterization of galD and galE in A. nidulans using cell and molecular techniques showed that unlike yeast, neither of these genes was essential for growth at physiological pH 7.5. Nevertheless for each case, their expressions were up-regulated by growth on galactose, revealing the relative complexity of galactose metabolism in A. nidulans. Our study also showed that repression of the three sequentially acting Galf pathway genes by conditional promoters phenocopied previously characterized deletion morphology. Using anti-Galf (L10) we also showed that deletion and repression of these genes caused no Galf in the hyphal wall. Gene deletion or repression also increased sensitivity to the wall-targeting drug, caspofungin. Related results from qPCR showed that deletion or repression of ugmA increased gene expression of α-glucan synthase agsB and decreased that of β-glucan synthase fksA. Therefore, Galf is non-essential but important for many aspects of Aspergillus growth, sporulation, and wall maturation. Aspergillosis, the most common airborne systemic fungal disease, is typically caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. Several A. fumigatus UgmA (AfUgmA) mutants with altered enzyme activity due to single amino acid changes were used to assess their effect on growth and wall composition in A. nidulans. Wild type AfugmA complemented the phenotypic defects in an A. nidulans ugmAΔ strain, consistent with these two genes being homologous. The AfUgmA crystal structure has been solved, and the in vitro enzymatic effects of specific mutations in the enzyme active site have been published. AfUgmA mutated strains with reduced activity in vitro impaired A. nidulans growth in a manner substantially similar to gene deletion and gene down-regulation. Site directed mutagenesis showed that AfUgmA residues R182 and R327 were critical for Galf generation both in vivo and in vitro. This supports previous results showing that UgmA is essential for Galf biosynthesis. Using fluorescent latex beads, we showed that reduction of wall Galf increased hyphal surface adhesion. Consistent with qPCR studies, immunofluorescence and ELISA results showed that loss or absence of Galf increased wall α-glucan but reduced wall β -glucan. Galf is important for wall surface integrity and for maintaining dynamic co-ordination with other pathways. To begin to assess this dynamic co-ordination, Tandem Affinity Purification (TAP) tagging combined with LC-MS/MS was used to identify the interacting partners of UgmA. Our results showed that UgmA interacted with proteins that are involved in cytoskeleton generation, osmotic adaptation, and cell signalling pathway. Further study will help us to understand the dynamic coordination of Galf biosynthesis pathway with other wall carbohydrate polymers for Aspergillus wall formation. In summary, my thesis results have clearly shown that Galf plays important roles in Aspergillus growth, and wall surface integrity. We also showed that Galf deficient strains are hypersensitive to wall-targeting drugs, indicating that Galf biosynthesis pathway could be potential target for combination therapy. The Galf pathway also maintained a dynamic co-ordination with alpha-glucan and beta-glucan carbohydrate pathways. Future study may include developing an inhibitor against UgmA and exploring the relationship of Galf pathway with alpha-glucan and beta-glucan carbohydrate pathways.