Gender differences in public office workers’ satisfaction,subjective symptoms and musculoskeletal complaints in workplace and office environments

This study investigates differences between male and female public office workers’ satisfaction levels, sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms and musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) complaints in workplace and office environments. Questionnaire surveys were performed in 30 offices from 15 public institutions. Male and female workers of the same age were coupled and selected from each office, gathering a total of 120 male and 120 female subjects. The results show that differences exist between genders in noise and lighting satisfaction levels, SBS-related symptoms (eye, nose, skin) and MSD complaints of hand/wrist/finger, while there is no difference in overall satisfaction level of office environments. The study also suggests that office design for public office workers should take into account gender differences in preventing MSDs and also SBS. The findings of this study are expected to serve as basic data for designing effective public office environments.     

p,p'-DDE与雄激素受体突变体H874Y及T877A激动性作用机制的理论研究

1,1-二氯-2,2-双(对氯苯基)乙烯(p,p'-DDE)是一种已知的雄激素受体(androgen receptor,AR)拮抗剂。有趣的是,已有研究证实p,p'-DDE同时可经由作用于AR的2种天然突变体H874Y和T877A产生拟雄激素效应,但其相互作用的分子机制尚不清晰。本研究联用分子动力学模拟与MM-GBSA方法,以内源性激素二氢睾酮(DHT)作为对照,对p,p'-DDE与2种突变体的相互作用分子机制进行了研究。模拟结果指出范德华相互作用是维持p,p'-DDE与AR突变体结合的主要驱动力,而溶剂化作用的差异是导致p,p'-DDE与H874Y具有较高结合活性的主要原因,H874Y结合口袋与p,p'-DDE的结构匹配度优于与T877A。与内源性配体二氢睾酮相比较,范德华作用与静电相互作用的差异是造成p,p'-DDE比DHT结合活性低的主要原因,p,p'-DDE与AR突变体之间缺乏氢键的稳定。MM-GBSA的结果确定p,p'-DDE与突变体结合过程的关键氨基酸以疏水性残基为主,其中L704、M745、L873尤为重要。计算获得的p,p'-DDE对H874Y及T877A相互作用分子机制有助于理解该污染物在不同人群中内分泌干扰效应的差异。     

Hot,Salty Water: A Confluence of Issues in Managing Stormwater Runoff for Urban Streams

Research increasingly highlights cause and effect relationships between urbanization and stream conditions are complex and highly variable across physical and biological regions. Research also demonstrates stormwater runoff is a key causal agent in altering stream conditions in urban settings. More specifically, thermal pollution and high salt levels are two consequences of urbanization and subsequent runoff. This study describes a demonstration model populated with data from a high gradient headwaters stream. The model was designed to explain surface water‐groundwater dynamics related to salinity and thermal pollution. Modeled scenarios show long‐term additive impacts from salt application and suggest reducing flow rates, as stormwater management practices are typically designed to do, have the potential to greatly reduce salt concentrations and simultaneously reduce thermal pollution. This demonstration model offers planners and managers reason to be confident that stormwater management efforts can have positive impacts.     

微量元素对牛粪低温厌氧发酵的影响

为考察较低温度(<17℃)条件下添加微量金属元素对厌氧发酵产气量的影响,在发酵底物TS(含固率)为10%下采用10 L玻璃瓶作反应器,以牛粪为原料,向厌氧生物反应器中分别添加MnSO4、FeSO4·7H2O、电解锰渣,分析了厌氧消化系统运行过程中的产气量、COD(化学需氧量)和pH的变化。结果表明,锰元素能促进低温下牛粪的厌氧发酵,加速反应启动。当添加6 g MnSO4、100 g电解锰渣时,单位质量VS产气率分别为0.26 mL/g和0.64 mL/g,添加6 g FeSO4·7H2O与空白对照组均未见明显产气。     

Contribution of sociodemographic characteristics, occupation, diet and lifestyle to DDT and DDE concentrations in serum and adipose tissue from a Bolivian cohort

The organochlorine pesticide p,p′-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was widely used in the early 1960s-70s for vector control in tropical and subtropical areas of South America. Due to its persistence, DDT has a high potential to bioaccumulate in the food chain and living organisms and is a major public health concern, especially in South America.The main purpose of the present study was to investigate predictors of serum and adipose tissue concentrations of p,p′-DDT and its main metabolite, p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE), in an adult cohort (n = 112) from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, using multiple linear regression models. These models explained 29.3-47.8% of the variability in adipose tissue concentrations of p,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDE, respectively, and 32.9-47.0% of that in serum. Main exposure predictors included age, occupational class, residence, diet, smoking habit, and accumulated breastfeeding time.This is one of the few studies to explore predictors of human exposure to these chemicals using a multivariate approach in a South American population. Results show that predictors of human exposure to p,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDE in Santa Cruz de la Sierra may diverge from those found in other populations of the world, due to particular sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics of this region.     

Genetic considerations in the prenatal diagnosis of overgrowth syndromes

Large (>90%) for gestational age (LGA) fetuses are usually identified incidentally. Detection of the LGA fetus should first prompt the provider to rule out incorrect dates and maternal diabetes. Once this is done, consideration should be given to certain overgrowth syndromes, especially if anomalies are present. The overgrowth syndromes have significant clinical and molecular overlap, and are associated with developmental delay, tumors, and other anomalies. Although genetic causes of overgrowth are considered postnatally, they are infrequently diagnosed prenatally. Here, we review prenatal sonographic findings in fetal overgrowth syndromes, including Pallister-Killian, Beckwith-Wiedemann, Sotos, Perlman, and Simpson-Golabi-Behmel. We also discuss prenatal diagnosis options and recurrence risks. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.